Australia, mining firms happy on law assurance

Australia as well as other foreign and local mining companies applauded yesterday the government’s decision not to repeal a law that liberalized the industry.

President Arroyo’s administration said it would not bow to pressure by Roman Catholic bishops and green groups calling for a repeal of the statute as recommended by an independent fact-finding body.

The body was created by Mrs. Arroyo in February to investigate waste spillage from a mining site operated by a local unit of Australia’s Lafayette Mining Corp. in the central island of Rapu-Rapu.

Australian gov’t defends Lafayette

The Australian government yesterday came to the defense of the Lafayette mining group after a fact-finding body urged a stop to its operations, and as Malacañang called for “fairness and reason” in resolving the issue lest the country lose the confidence of investors.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye referred to the waste discharges incident on Rapu-Rapu Island involving the Australian firm Lafayette Philippines Inc. as a mere “operational flaw” that could be corrected through mitigating measures.

Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes was to fly to Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay province today to “validate” the findings of the Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission.

Albay exec dumps Bastes’ group report

Albay Vice Gov. James Calisin wants the Bastes Commission report trashed for trying to sneak supposedly antimining and pseudo-leftist militant members into critical government panels that will decide on the application of Lafayette Philippines for an environmental clearance certificate.

“That is sneaky. They were able to do it in the commission because Bishop Bastes handpicked its members, which included pseudo-leftist militants and antimining people. To follow the Bastes recommendation is to have someone that perennially will thwart government efforts to attract foreign investments,” he said.

It should be interesting to track Manila Standard Today’s bias in mining news. Our checking of newspaper clippings from the past several months has revealed that the long percieved pro-mining daily, the Inquirer has devoted equal time to both sides of the issue.

In other news, the focus on the mining ban recommendation still dominates the discourse. Where are the calls for the heads of the DENR officials? The analysis of the report has shifted to congress which has floated the idea of an independent mine monitoring body. No doubt to be accused of economic sabotage the moment they state something contrary to the government’s position.