MAKATI CITY – Former Foreign Affairs Sec. Delia Albert led on Wednesday the grand launch here of a non-government organization advocating for the responsible development of the country’s wealth of resources in the field of mining, quarrying, oil and gas.
Albert, first woman foreign affairs secretary, said their group Diwata Women in Resource Development Inc. is an advocate and partner in the campaign for responsible minerals development and “especially committed to the advancement of women’s and indigenous people’s rights.”
She is the spokesperson and prime mover of Diwata which, according to Philippine mythology, are nature spirits and one with Mother Earth.
In her speech at the launching in Ayala Musuem, Albert said Diwata ‘“is protector of the environment.”
She urged the responsible use of Earth’s resources to end poverty, stressing that “all must earn.”
In Central Luzon, active mining is undertaken in Zambales, notably in Botolan town. The area is rich in chromite regarded as the most important material used in making guns, missiles and rockets.
Earlier, legitimate Zambales-based mining operators, including Consolidated Mines Inc. (CMI), complained illegal small-scale miners hauling chromite ore stockpiles, which were shipped to China.
DIWATA incorporator Gie Veloso said their group promotes dialogues among “all stakeholders,” including small-scale miners.
In Pampanga, Gov. Lilia Pineda collected at least P505 million barely on her second year in office from the extraction of sand materials largely used for making houses and buildings. Her collection for two years is the highest-ever recorded in the history of the province.
She had used portions of the funds for her priority projects on health and concerns on women and children.
Rochelle Hilario, marketing and communications manager of Philex Mining Corp., said their company had “certain (mining) tenements” in Central Luzon and other parts of Luzon. But she pointed out that Philex, regarded as the largest mining firm in the country, only operates one mining firm in Benquet province at the Cordillera Administrative Region in North Luzon.
Hilario said she had joined Diwata “as her personal advocacy to promote responsible mining and the welfare of women in the field.”
She added that Philex chaired by Manuel V. Pangilinan is ready to help “in any way” Diwata and its advocacies.
Hilario said that the Philex has more than 2,000 workers. She added that they have women geologists and high-ranking officials.
Hilario is one of at least 50 members of Diwata composed of mining engineers, geologists and other professionals in the field of safety, law, metallurgy, accounting and finance social science and communications.
Diwata also urged a dialogue on Executive Order No. 79, the mining policy recently signed by President Aquino.
The group wants to tackle the EO’s impact and effects on women in mining project areas.
