In an effort to attract foreign investors, the Philippine's
government has sold its tribal peoples' land and health. The Philippines
offers corporate investors some of the most favorable terms worldwide, but
it is the Igorot, a tribal people of Luzon, who are paying the dearest
price. Nearly 15 percent of the Philippine's population, are tribal
peoples. The Igorot, who number one million, live mostly in the mineral
rich mountainous region of the Philippines.
Open cast mining is a major health threat to the people who live in
this area. Breathing difficulties have doubled in the Igorot population
since the Benguet Corporation's new sites were installed. Cyanide and
other poisonous chemicals used in gold extraction pollute local waters and
air. The Igorot and many other local residents must work long arduous
hours and deal with the physical perils of mining for the benefit of
foreign investors.
The Philippines government repeatedly has preferred to give
multinational more rights and incentives, while ignoring its own tribal
peoples' land rights. Although, ancestral lands were recognized in 1987
when the constitution was revised, subsequent laws like the Small-scale
Mining Act of 1991 did not recognize ancestral lands. In addition, the act
increased the foreign control and ownership of mining companies from 40% to
100%. These companies now have the right to displace and resettle people
within their "concessionary areas", and environmental regulations are
extremely loose.
The Igorot should be allowed to mine the region themselves. The
Igorot have different traditional small-scale mining practices, which are
much more self-sustaining and better for all in the long run. In such
small-scale mining practices, the right to dig is granted by the elders and
the mineral resources mined are then commonly held. Up to 100,000 of the
one million Igorot people gain significant benefits and small-scale
methods.
Numerous attempts to make the 1987 recognition of land rights a
reality have been blocked. At the same time, many laws which directly
contradict this constitutional commitment have made it on to the statute
books. The Government has turned it's back on the Igorot and sustainable
development projects, and instead strongly backs the policy of economic
growth through free access to foreign investors. In light of the
Philippines' massive $39 billion debt this may seem like a solution in the
short-term, but the Igorot will end up paying twice. First they will pay
immediately through the corrosion of their health and economy, and in the
long run, along with the rest of the Philippines' population, when
multinational mining methods leave the Cordillera region stripped of
resources. The Philippines' government should honor the 1987 revision of
their constitution and recognize the Igorot land rights, and at the same
time support the native Igorot mining practices.
If you wish to help the Igorot please write a strong and polite letter to:
The Honorable Victor Ramos
Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources
Eliptical Road
Quezon City, Metro-Manila
Philippines
The Honorable Jose de Venecia
Speaker: House of representatives
Batasan Hills
Quezon City, Metro-Manila
Philippines
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South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC)
Box 28703
Oakland, CA 94604
(510) 834-4263 Fax: (510) 834-4264 Email: saiic@igc.apc.org
Home Page: http://www.igc.apc.org/saiic/saiic.html
For more information about SAIIC, send e-mail to <saiic-info@igc.apc.org>