The Alyansa Tigil Mina Blog

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/sept/11/yehey/prov/20060911pro1.html
Monday, September 11, 2006

Rapu-rapu, Albay: Lafayette Philippines Inc. is now planning to develop a half-kilometer stretch white sand beach resort on this island where they are conducting polymetallic mining operations.

Manny Agcaoili, president of the Lafayette subsidiary, Rapu-rapu Processing Inc., said they discovered a white sand beach in Barangay Ungay.

In an interview, Agcaoili said they have already visited the area and has even swum in its waters. (more…)

http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2006091174086.html
By MELODY M. AGUIBA

Rio Tinto, world’s second largest iron producer, aims to make a comeback in the local mining scene while a Toronto-based firm eyes to put up an integrated nickel plant in light of Philippines’ encouraging mining policies.

Rio Tinto, which was in the country exploring mineral areas in the late 1990s, has expressed interest to return, seeking copper and gold exploration sites prospectively in Southern Philippines. Attractive mineralogy is present in the Surigao mining district and in gold-copper prospects in Compostela Valley in Mindanao.

“We’re trying to look for opportunities. We’re positive about developments and the improved mining policies. We’re seeing support from the government and we’re encouraged by the positive outlook. We came to see if the situation has changed,” said said Jeanette dela Cruz, official of Rio Tinto Ltd- Philippine representative in an interview. (more…)

Sept 5, 2006
ACN Newswire -
http://www.acnnewswire.net/press/en/32942/Field-Public-Relations.html

Adelaide - A large continuous exploration drilling program to prove up oneof Australasia’s most promising nickel projects has been announced by RusinaMining Limited (ASX: RML).

The two-staged drilling program has commenced this month and will target both the shallow nickel laterites and higher grade deeper nickel sulphide styles at the Acoje project on Luzon Island in the Philippines, leading to the project’s first JORC resource estimate for nickel laterites within the coming December quarter.

“We have set an initial target of between 40-60 million tonnes of laterite @ between 0.9 and 1.2% nickel on the limonites alone at Acoje,” Rusina’s Managing Director, Mr Robert Gregory, said today. (more…)

DEFEND PATRIMONY PRESS RELEASE

September 8, 2006

Various groups allied with the Defend Patrimony!, a nationwide alliance against miing liberalization and calling for the defense of our national patrimony, raised howls of protest over plans of Lafayette Philippines, Inc. and DENR to extend the 30-day test run.

“This is already adding insult to injury! The DENR would be self-destructing if it continues to allow the 60-day extension of the Test Run,” warned Frances Quimpo, Center for Environmental Concerns, Inc (CEC). “In the first place, the 30 day test run is already a big anomaly. The DENR knows that it is not the answer to the big questions around acid mine drainage (AMD) or containment of mine wastes issues of the Rapurapu project, Quimpo added.

AGHAM spokesperson Ricarido Saturay, Jr, challenged, “Why give this recidivist mining company special treatment? If Lafayette’s structures and operations are already so good why should DENR not just require a truly independent environmental impact study (EIS) of the Rapurapu project and have it secure a fresh environmental compliance certificate (ECC).” (more…)

9 September 2006

The Philippines Government claims that allowing foreign companies to mine for gold will bring prosperity to the islands. But the Church is supporting local people who fear it will damage their health, their livelihoods and the environment

On a recent fact-finding visit to the Philippines I found myself among some of the most radical and eco­logically sensitive Christians that I have ever met. They were Columbans - a dwin­dling band of missionary priests mainly from Ireland, the United States, Australia and New Zealand - who are doing all they can to fight plans for a major expansion in open-cast mining funded
by foreign investment. (more…)