Environmentalist Group Fears Cover-Up In Compostela Landslide Tragedy

COMPOSTELA VALLEY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 23, 2008) – An environmentalist group in the southern Philippines called PANALIPDAN! expressed fears about a recent statement by the government that mining activities here had nothing to do with the series of landslides that killed dozens of people.

Philippine authorities said more than two dozen people had died from a landslide that struck the mining town of Maco in Compostela Valley province in Mindanao. Days of monsoon rains loosened mud and boulders that cascaded down the slopes in the village of Masara early this month.

Several other environmentalist groups also blamed mining activities in the province for the landslides, saying, tunnels had aggravated the soil condition.

Seven villages - Mainit, Tagbaros, Elizalde, Panibasan, Teresa, New Barili and Limbo - are also in danger of landslides and authorities ordered residents, mostly small-scale gold miners, away from slopes.

Among those who died was the village chieftain of Masara, Jovencio Anquera and his two daughters.

But the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau said the area is a geo-hazard and prone to landslides, a finding challenged by environmentalists.

“With the recent declarations of DENR and MGB, apparently they are quick in putting the blame to the residents who are actually the victims of the tragedy here without even conducting prior in-depth investigation as to why the landslide occurred and how it happened to be a landslide-prone area in the first place,” Francis Morales, Panalipdan spokesman, said in a statement.

Morales challenged DENR and said: “Instead of proposing another policy to dislocate the people, why not review the recent policy such is the Mining Act of 1995 and see what ill-effects it has brought to the people and how they could pay for the crime they have done against the people and environment due to their relentless issuance of mining permits to big foreign mining corporations."

He said his group and other environmentalists were apprehensive over the real motive of the forcible evacuation of settlers in Masara and Mainit villages.

“There could be more to this than simply being concern for more landslides in the area,” Morales said.

Morales cited Panalipdan’s own research which showed that operations of big mining firms in the province, especially in the town, had contributed largely to the destruction of the environment.

“With the large-scale mining operating in the area, evacuation of settlers also means paving the way for more plunder of mineral resources and an easy way to establish a dam for mine tailings. Mines tailings are destroying our river systems just like what happened to (pollutions of) Hijo and Naboc rivers,” he said.

Morales said his group, which is campaigning for the total scrapping of the Mining Act of 1995, also urged authorities and humanitarian and environmental advocates to launch an impartial and in-depth investigation into the Masara tragedy. He also appealed for aid for thousands of people affected by landslides here. (With a report from Romy Bwaga)