MANILA, Philippines—A "hungry and weak" Mangyan protester has appealed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to spare Mindoro island from environmental destruction and revoke the mining clearance of Norway-based Intex Resources.

In an open letter written in a native Mangyan dialect and script, Ponyon Kadlos, coordinator of the Kapulungan Para sa Lupaing Ninuno (KPLN), told President Arroyo that "our whole life is at risk" if the mountains of Mindoro will be dug for nickel ore.

"Kanmi sagradong lugay ay madaot din. Kami ay mapapalayas ginan sa kanmi daga, ag ti kalikasan ay madaot. (Our sacred land will be ruined. We will be displaced from our ancestral domain and the environment will be devastated)," Kadlos said.

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza issued the environment compliance certificate (ECC) on October 14, allowing Intex to mine for nickel 11,600 hectares of land in Mindoro.

This was made despite a 25-year mining ban in Oriental Mindoro province and numerous municipal and village ordinances in Occidental Mindoro opposing the project, said Fr. Edwin Gariguez, one of the hunger strikers camped outside the Department of Environment and Natural Resources head office.

"Adok mga buhi ti mamatay no ituloy ti planong pag mina, sa sulod daga ginurang. Buo kanmi paghadlang sa daka pagmimina. (Our lives are at risk because of the proposed mining within our ancestral domain. We strongly oppose large-scale mining)," Kadlos said.

"Kanmi paghagadon sa kanmo bilang pinakaabwat lider sa Pilipinas ay bul-on yi kay bisa ti ECC na ipinahintulot sa Intex Resources. (As the highest leader of the Philippines, we ask you to revoke the ECC issued to Intex Resources)," he said.

"Ti mag hagad mga Mangyan sa Silangang Mindoro. (We ask this on behalf of the Mangyans in Oriental Mindoro)," he added.

The $2.4-billion nickel project straddles the municipalities of Victoria, Pola, and Socorro, in Oriental Mindoro, and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro.

The DENR’s Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee has recommended the ECC denial for the nickel mine, citing a lack of baseline information on the terrestrial flora and fauna in the project site and public consultations in the direct and indirect impact areas.

The hunger strike of the Mangyans, priests and environmental activists entered its ninth day Wednesday.

"Kami tay nguna ay tanan yi magkalun-os ag magkagasa yi. (We are now hungry and weak)," Kadlos said.