The Alyansa Tigil Mina Blog

On Thursday, the church led a grand rally against the government’s decision allowing Lafayette to conduct a one-month test-run. Granting that with the safety nets that the mining firm has guaranteed no problem arises, Lafayette will be allowed to proceed with its normal operation. (more…)

First posted 05:55am (Mla time) June 19, 2006
Inquirer

“More deaths [will occur] if [this is] not stopped. [The miner’s death] was a simple case of ignorance of basic safety precautions [after] gas accumulated inside [the tunnel],” he said.
Acting provincial police director Senior Superintendent Rogelio Damazo said Eugene Ansibey, 29, a resident of Didipio, died of gas poisoning while inside one of the mining tunnels there. (more…)

First posted 08:03am (Mla time) June 19, 2006
By Christian Esguerra
Inquirer

The outspoken bishop said that by allowing Lafayette to resume operations against the commission’s recommendations and loud protests, the government seemed to be telling the company to “rape us some more.” (more…)

16-June-06

by Edited announcement

Como-based mining explorer Medusa Mining Ltd has raised $3.356 million
to fund the major expansion of its program in the Philippines.

The placement was of 5.59 million ordinary shares at an issue price of
60 cents per share to sophisticated investors from the UK and clients of State One Stockbroking and Delta Securities.

In May the company announced, through its subsidiaries and in joint
venture with Philsaga Mining Corporation, the signing of a joint venture agreement with MRL Gold Phils. Inc. and an underlying claim over the Apical Gold project in the Philippines.

At market close, shares in Medusa were up 4.5 cents to 61.5 cents. (more…)

PIA Press Release - http://www.pia.gov.ph/news.asp?fi=p060616.htm&no=31
16 June 2006

Cebu — One of the priority activities of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR-7) 12-point agenda is to revitalize the mining industry in the country as part of the government’s economic reform agenda to create jobs and reduce poverty.
Under the localized version of the department’s 12-point agenda, the DENR-7 said it aims to revive the mining industry in the region by coordinating with potential investors for the reopening and rehabilitation of the Atlas Mining in Toledo City. Likewise, the agenda also seeks for the assessment and clean-up of priority abandoned or inactive mines in Naga, Cebu and Basay, Oriental Negros.
Revitalizing the mining industry in Cebu and the region under the localized DENR’s 12-point agenda will be elaborated more by Environment Sec. Angelo T. Reyes in a scheduled press conference as he visits Cebu on Saturday, June 16, 2006 for the launching of the Recyclables Collection Event.

The mining sector may now be open for foreign exploration and direct ownership under the Philippine Mining Act but government stressed it is sensitive to the balancing act of promoting responsible mining while caring for the environment at the same time. The DENR has now allowed Lafayette Mining Ltd. to conduct a 30-day test run of its facilities after a seven-month suspension of its operations due to illegal discharge of mine tailings.
There are five large-scale mining companies in Central Visayas per DENR-7 record as of late last year that have provided more than 1.6T jobs of which more than half has directly benefited Cebu.

Reviving the Atlas Mining Corp. is expected to benefit 3T direct employment in the community excluding the indirect jobs and economic activities that the city and nearby towns will benefit.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued EO 274 in January 2004 stressing the draft on “The National Policy Agenda on Revitalizing Mining in the Philippines.” With the order calls the formulation of the Minerals Action Plan 2004 - 2010 to rejuvenate the country’s ailing mining industry. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)

The government’s decision to allow a mining company to
have a 30-day test run angered the members of a
fact-finding commission that found Lafayette negligent
and responsible for the mine spills that happened in
October. According to them, the decision shows the
administration’s bias for transnational mining
corporations.

BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN, Bulatlat Vol. VI, No. 19 -
http://bulatlat.com/news/6-19/6-19-gimmick.htm

June 18-24, 2006

Nothing but “a simple gimmick.” (more…)

June 17, 2006

By Belinda Olivares-Cunanan, Daily Inquirer - Political Tidbits
http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=2&story_id=79397&col=78

Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes’ decision to give Lafayette Mining a
30-day trial run to prove it can operate its zinc and copper mine on
Rapu-Rapu Island without violating environmental standards is eliciting
a lot of praise. Recall that Lafayette was suspended for seven months
after two cyanide spills late last year. The government imposed as a
condition for a new permit that the company put in place new safeguards and pay a P10.4-million fine. But this did not prevent demands from various militant groups not only to close down Lafayette for good, but also to repeal the Mining Law.

Luckily, sensible heads prevailed, and a trial run was conceived. As
Rep. Edcel Lagman, in whose Albay province Lafayette operates, opined,
“Allowing (the mining firm) to tentatively resume operations is an example of government’s resolve to forge a viable balance between progress and ecology.”

I’ve always stressed that our country has to exploit, jointly with
foreign investors, our vast mineral wealth, estimated at $1 trillion, in order to rescue our people from the bondage of poverty. But this has to be done in a manner that provides adequate protection to the national patrimony and promotes the welfare of our citizens.

Mark Ivan Roblas, Manila Times -
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/june/17/yehey/metro/20060617met1.html

17th June 2006

DISMAYED over the permit granted to Lafayette Philippines Inc. to
conduct a test run on Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay, environmental groups on Friday asked Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes to resign for failing to protect the country’s natural resources.

Trixie Concepcion, spokesman for Defend Patrimony, expressed doubts
that Reyes, a former soldier, would be able defend the interests of the
public after allowing the test run of Lafayette.

“Secretary Reyes should stop pretending that he is capable of
protecting our environment and managing our natural resources. He is better off as a salesman or even a defender of foreign mining companies than anything else,” Concepcion said. (more…)