IPs must get most benefit from mining, says Robredo
FILE PHOTO: Vice President Leni Robredo on January 6, 2020.INQUIRER/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Residents, especially indigenous peoples (IPs), in areas where there are mining activities should receive the most benefit from minerals extraction, Vice President Leni Robredo has asserted.
She also said during an interview with talk show host Boy Abunda aired on Wednesday that people who are or will be most affected by mining operations should have a voice in any decision regarding the use of their land resources.
“Doon sa mga lugar na [papayagan ang] mining kasi naka-saad sa Land Use Act na pwede ‘yong gawing mga mineral sites, sisiguraduhin natin na makikinabang ‘yong locality, hindi negosyante, kundi Pilipino,” Robredo said.
“Pero ‘yong makikinabang lalo na ‘yong mga indigenous peoples, dapat sila ‘yong makinabang, dapat ‘pag papayagan ito, sisiguraduhin natin na ‘yong boses ng mga maapektuhan ay pinapakinggan,” she added.
Robredo clarified that while she believes in sustainable mining or responsible mining, there should be a law that would clearly state what is allowed in mining and what is not, and where mining would never be permitted.
“Maraming mga mahahalagang batas na kailangang ipasa na, ‘yong land use bill, dahil iyon ‘yong magsasabi, iyon ‘yong magpapanukala alin bang mga lugar dito sa bansa natin ang kailangang ideklara na mga no-mining zones. ‘Pag hindi pa ito naipapasa, ‘yong pag-iisue natin ng mga permits ay hindi matatag ‘yong nagiging basehan nito,” she said.
“Naniniwala ako sa sustainable mining, pero para sa akin kasi ‘yong sustainability maa-attain lang natin ‘yon ‘pag meron tayong maayos na mekanismo para ‘yong mga nakatira doon ay mabibigyan natin ng boses,” she explained.
When asked how she would translate such principle into action, Robredo mentioned the People’s Empowerment Bill which she authored when she was still a legislator at the House of Representatives. The People’s Empowerment Bill aims to create people’s councils in government offices to let ordinary people participate in decisions about whether mining operations should be allowed in their area.
“When I was in Congress, I was the principal author of the empowerment bill. ‘Yong empowerment bill nilalayon niya na magiging mandatory hindi lang sa mga local government units pero sa lahat ng mga government agencies na magkaroon ng mga people’s councils,” Robredo stressed.
“Na gustong sabihin nito hindi lang basta ka magpapa-meeting, pero ‘yong representation sa people’s councils, represented ‘yong mahahalagang stakeholders, at meron silang voting rights,” she added.
Mining has been a controversial issue under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, as the late environment secretary Gina Lopez purged mining contracts in an effort to save the environment.
READ: Gina Lopez scraps 75 mine contracts
But in April 2021, the nine-year ban on new mining contracts was scrapped by Duterte — earning criticisms from environmental groups who claim that irresponsible mining has been damaging communities.
On Sunday, Robredo said that if she wins the presidency in the May elections this year, she will revoke Duterte’s executive order that lifted the mining ban.
