CLARK FREEPORT– Albay Gov. Joey Salceda reported here yesterday that at least 40 provincial governments nationwide have resolutions “against the spirit of the Mining Act.”
In an interview, Salceda, who was guest speaker in the 4th national conference of private sectors members of the Regional Development Councils, expressed hope that the resolutions would eventually convince the government to scrap the law which was passed way back in 1995 and spawned big mining operations all over the country.
Salceda is also chair of the Luzon Development Coordinating Council (LDCC) and chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Bicol region.
“There’s enough ground (for Congress) to scrap the law,” he said, noting that the poorest provinces in the country are those that host significant mining operations, citing the case of Camarines Norte, Masbate, Zamboanga del Norte, and Benguet.
“Mining has nothing to do with development,” he stressed.
Salceda noted that the income the country derives from mining is insignificant at about two percent amid environmental degradation wrought by mining operations.
“If we talk about P5 billion we earn, what about the P15 billion they cart off?” he asked.
Among the provinces which have passed resolutions against mining is Salceda’s Albay. The resolution, passed last year, declared that mining ban in the province was needed as mining activities “indubitably jeopardize the environment and deplete the province’s mineral and natural resources.”
Salceda also expressed opposition to a proposed Executive Order which Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said was already submitted to Pres. Aquino for consideration.
The EO would create a mining council to “harmonize the conflicting interests of the mining industry, local and national governments, and environmental advocates.”
“That EO is anti-LGU (local government units). It’s a reversal of the Constitution, and is anti-subsidiarity and anti-local preference” he said, noting that it would virtually impose on local governments mining policies even against local interest.
