Panay anti-mining groups kick off 3-day caravan in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY – Environmental advocates and church groups on Panay Island kicked off on Friday a three-day caravan covering four provinces against large-scale mining on the island.

The caravan led by the Visayan Coalition for the Ecology, Madia-as Ecological Movement and Defend Patrimony, was among the protest actions against mining in Panay, said Hope Hervilla of the Visayan Coalition for the Ecology.

“We must send a strong message to our government that we are against the liberalized, pollutive, and extractive mining in Panay and in the entire country,” she said.

On Panay and Guimaras islands, 172,764.26 hectares of land out of the total land area of 1,229,704 ha, were covered by approved or pending mining applications, said Ma. Geobelyn Lopez, MEM secretary general.

Around 100 participants in seven vehicles left Iloilo City after an ecumenical Mass celebrated by priests and pastors on Friday morning.

The caravan arrived at noon in the capital town of San Jose in Antique where they were hosted by the San Jose Diocesan Social Action Center, said Ma. Geobelyn Lopez, secretary general of the Madia-as Ecological Movement (MEM).

In the afternoon, the caravan was met in Barbaza town by members of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines who joined the participants to Pandan and Libertad towns.

The Dioceses of San Jose, Antique and various groups in the province are opposing mining activities in Libertad especially in areas within or near the 12,009-hectare North Western Panay Peninsula, a protected area.

A short program was held in Libertad before the caravan proceeded to Malay town, Aklan. The participants were expected to spend the night in Ibajay town, also in Aklan.

The caravan will proceed to Aklan’s capital town,  Kalibo, on Saturday for a short program at the Pastrana Park before proceeding to Roxas City in Capiz.

The caravan will leave Roxas City early Saturday  afternoon,  passing the mining areas in Maayon, Pontevedra and Pilar towns in Capiz.

It is expected to arrive in Estancia town in Iloilo, where the caravan contingents will stay overnight.

On Sunday, the contingents will leave Estancia in the morning, passing the Iloilo towns of Batad, San Dionisio, Sara, Lemery, Concepcion, and Ajuy before arriving in Barotac Viejo town by noon.

It will end in Iloilo City in the afternoon on the Capitol grounds where a program will be held.

Anti-mining advocates have been clamoring for the scrapping of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and a moratorium on the processing and approval of mining applications.

They claimed that mining operations have destroyed or threatened the ecology and livelihood communities.

But the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines has maintained that its members have been advocating “responsible mineral development” and have provided employment and other socio-economic benefits to host communities.