Mining also cause of rice problem

Mining also cause of rice problem

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:50:00 05/10/2008

Filed Under: Mining and quarrying, rice problem, Laws


I attended a mining forum where the focus was on the mining activities in the province of Cagayan, especially those along its coastal towns. During the open forum, one participant noted that mining’s adverse effects contributed to the rice problem we are now experiencing. Completely agreeing with him, I added that mining could deprive the land of its vegetative cover, cause soil erosion and contaminate water sources, all of which could lead to land degradation and low farm yields. There may be vast tracts of irrigated farm lands that are no longer productive because of toxic wastes from mining.

The same participant also said that the reclassification of farms into industrial or commercial lots could have contributed, too, to the low supply of rice in the country. I said that local government units should review their comprehensive land use plan and find out whether or not farm lands in their localities are disappearing.

I suggested that our lawmakers should look into laws that govern mining and land reclassification activities in the country. The provisions of the mining law should be reviewed. For instance, Sec. 5 of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 states that “a ten per centum share of all the royalties and revenues to be derived by the government from the development and utilization of the mineral resources within mineral reservations ... shall accrue to Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) ....” This is a slanted provision of the law that might “blind” MGB into issuing indiscriminately Exploration Permit Application without regard to mining’s hazardous effects. Sec. 19 of the same law states that mining activities “shall not be allowed near or under public or private buildings … including plantations or valuable crops.” But it was disclosed during the forum that mining firms are unmindful of this legal prohibition.

A lawmaker has suggested that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo be given “emergency powers” to enable her to immediately address the rice problem. I propose that he file instead a resolution declaring a 25-year moratorium on all mining activities and on the reclassification of farm lands in the country.

Mining and reclassification may help prop up our economy but they steal rice from our table.

REGINALD B. TAMAYO, member, Sangguniang Bayan, Aparri, Cagayan