SECOND BIKOL PRIESTS’ CONGRESS (BPC II)
SIGNATURE DRIVE TO STOP MINING IN RAPU-RAPU

Universidad de Santa Isabel, Naga City, 10 August 2006

We, the Bikol Clergy - Bishops, Priests and Deacons - gathered at the Second Bikol Priests’ Congress (BPC II), wish to convey our strong opposition to the continued presence and operations of Lafayette Philippines, Inc. and its subsidiaries, RRMI and RRPI in Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

Our stand is supported by the findings of the Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission (RRFFC), headed by Bishop Arturo Bastes, S.V.D., D.D., and solid scientific studies conducted by the Ateneo de Naga University-Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research (INECAR). Studies done by Dr. Emelina Regis, INECAR Director, find the island dangerously unsuitable for mining due to the following reasons:

“[It is an] island ecosystem with steep slopes; [it has a] Type II climate,[Le.,]there is no dry season, with very pronounced wet period from November to January;[it is] located along the typhoon path; and [it has] massive iron sulphide rocks with acid-generating capacity or Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)…The resulting impacts of AMD include death to living organisms and release of toxic heavy metals that causes loss of productivity of aquatic and terrestrial plants… [and ultimately,] destruction of livelihood in agriculture and fisheries…These impacts will persist for a long time. Heavy rains will continue to erode loosened contaminated soil. Silt and tailings that poison the land and sea will leave behind unproductive land and dead coral reefs… There is no justice in sacrificing the survival of generations of people and other living organisms for the short-term gains of a few.” (INECAR Position Paper regarding mining in Rapu-Rapu: Closure of Lafayette Mine, 15 February 2006)

Thus, we, the Bikol Clergy, support the pastoral stand of the Dioceses of Legazpi and Sorsogon which they have held consistently from the very start: that mining must not be conducted in Rapu-Rapu and that the best course of action is the immediate closure of the Lafayette mine.
We continue to express our opposition to the 30-day Temporary Lifting Order (TLO) by the DENR that allowed a test run of mining operations by Lafayette, which, many of us believe, is but a ploy and a prelude to regular operations.

We view with much concern the glaring lack of transparency in the investigation of the most recent fish kill, which happened on 18, 21 and 22 July 2006, in one of the creeks in Rapu-Rapu, and reports of harassment of potential witnesses and of an independent research team which tried to get samples from the area.

We support the recommendations of the Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission (RRFFC). In particular, we wish to highlight some of these recommendations and appeal to the President, the DENR Secretary, con-cerned government agencies and LGUs, to consider them as moral imperatives: •

 “Cancel the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) of RRMI and RRPI” for serious violations of the ECC conditionalities, and above-mentioned reasons.

 “Cancel the RRMI and RRPI Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) registration on the basis of the irregularities found (by the RRFFC) and for the reason that the Rapu-Rapu LGU has been unduly deprived of local taxes.” •

 Review RA. 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations, and repeal provisions that put the interest of the Filipino people at a disadvantage.

May we open our hearts to receive the Holy Spirit.
Then He shall renew the face of the earth.
His Excellency

MOST REV. NESTOR C. CARIÑO, D.D.
Bishop of Legazpi

MOST REV. LUCILO B. QUIAMBAO, D.D.
Auxiliary Bishop of Legazpi

MOST REV. LEONARDO Z. LEGASPI, OP, D.D.
Archbishop of Caceres

MOST REV. JOSE R. ROJAS, JR., DD
Auxiliary Bishop of Caceres

MOST REV. MANOLO A. DE LOS SANTOS, D.D.
Bishop of Virac

MOST REV. JOEL Z. BAYLON, D.D.
Bishop of Masbate

MOST REV. BENJAMIN J. ALMONEDA, D.D.
Bishop of Daet

MOST REV. ARTURO M. BASTES, SVD, D.D.
Bishop of Sorsogon

MOST REV. PROSPERO N. ARELLANO, D.D.
Bishop Prelate of Libmanan

With 234 clergy signatories, including the above-mentioned seven bishops of the dioceses of Bikol.