Gov’t not pressuring South Cotabato to accept open pit mining—DILG chief

MANILA, Philippines—There’s no government pressure for open-pit mining.

Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo denied Sunday that he tried to pressure South Cotabato officials to recall an ordinance banning open-pit mines in the province to pave the way for the operation of what was touted to be one of the biggest copper and gold mines in the world.

Robredo said it was not true he called Governor Arthur Pingoy recently to ask him to review the ordinance with the aim of having it revoked. The ban is seen as the biggest obstacle to the operation of Xstrata’s Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), which is developing gold and copper mines in Tampakan town.

But he acknowledged that the Department of the Interior and Local Government did write the governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) in 2010, asking them to “revisit” the ordinance.

That letter, he said, was “triggered by the request of the DTI [Department of Trade and Industry] and the DoF [Department of Finance] to DILG to seek review as it runs counter to national law and policy.”

“The DILG does not have an official position for or against open-pit mining. But there’s no national law that expressly prohibits open pit mining unless it violates other laws,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

Robredo said the South Cotabato ordinance has been “unique” to the province.

“This is not my personal position, but the official position of the DILG-Legal (department). It is not regular, which is why we asked them to revisit it,” he said.

The secretary initially refused to comment when the Inquirer sought his reaction on Saturday, but on Sunday he explained that he had deferred comment because he had not yet read Pingoy’s statements.

As far as he knew, Robredoe said, a review has been ongoing, and that while only the courts could overturn the ordinance, the provincial board could exercise its authority to reverse itself.

Robredo said he confronted Pingoy by text message about his statements to the Inquirer and asked him to “please correct” them.

“I do not recall calling you recently on the mining issue. I wrote you and the Sanggunian to revisit the ordinance because it is contrary to a national law as opined by DILG-Legal… Have not even mentioned mining issue to you. In the interest of truth and fairness, please correct,” part of his message read.

Pingoy did not reply, he said.

The governor earlier said the provincial government would not amend the ordinance despite pressure from the national government. Pingoy said the ordinance, which was signed in June by then Governor Daisy Avance Fuentes, has been in effect and only a court order could stop its enforcement.

SMI has not contested the ordinance in any court yet although it has been rallying support from residents and officials, including those from Davao del Sur, which is also part of its proposed mine site.

SMI said the company has been trying to settle the problem through a mutual agreement with South Cotabato officials.