By Geraldford P. Ticke
Mayor Hagedorn shows Tan of WWF a map of Puerto Princesa where areas with application for mining exploration are shaded in various colors.
THE POSITION of Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn against the entry of mining operations in the Puerto Princesa “will remain and will remain strong” despite intrigues that he might succumb to pressure from higher officials. And more interestingly, outside support continues to pour in as World Wildlife Fund Vice Chairman Lorenzo Tan and environmental advocate Atty. Tony Oposa expressed enthusiasm toward his unbendable stance.
Mayor Hagedorn said he has yet to receive pressures and affirmed his position, saying “no such pressure will change” his mind. “First of all, Sec. (Joselito) Atienza never attempted to talk to me because (maybe) he already knows that we will not change our mind,” Mayor Hagedorn said.
“Our track record will speak for us,” he explained, referring to earlier positions he made about gambling and live fish ban which he implemented in his earlier term.
Good governance
“Here, you were able to show not only to your selves but to the entire province of Palawan and the entire Philippines as well how important is taking care of the environment,” Atty. Oposa said in a press conference last Saturday, October 13. He also said that “good environmental governance is good politics and because of that, your mayor was able to make Puerto Princesa clean and green.”
Atty. Oposa likewise lauded the newest tourism campaign of the City – the dolphin watching tour, which he says is an indication that the seas of Puerto Princesa are still clean. “This is an important indicator that the fish has become abundant because these small fish are what dolphins eat. So the hardships that Mayor Hagedorn and the people of Puerto Princesa are now beginning to bear fruits,” he said.
He likewise said the new tour package is a good one for fishermen because they need not get the fish out of the water. “This is one good example of sustainable development because after a day of tour, the dolphins will still be there so nothing will be lost,” he said.
DENR scored
Going back to the issue of mining, Atty. Oposa bantered regarding the change of name of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). “From now on, let’s call it the Department of Extraction of Natural Resources. Then we will request the Senate to hold one of the inquiries (being proposed by Sen. Loren Legarda to conduct an investigation on the letter of compliance of mining companies on the environmental standards and conditions set in their contract.) here,” he said.
Looking at a map shown by Mayor Hagedorn to the media, Atty. Oposa said he can’t help but agree that “practically, every square inch of Puerto Princesa has been covered by mining claims.” All these, he claims, are result of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s “aggressive and irrational policy on mining.”
“What is happening now in this country is not rational neither responsible,” he said.
Legal authority
Atty. Oposa likewise said a legal question which was raised to him whether or not a local government has the authority to declare a mining-free zone will be answered also with a question. “Does the local government have the power or authority to chart its own course of sustainable development? Under the local government code, yes!” he said.
Citing the principle of local autonomy under the constitution, he said local governments are authorized. “And under the basic international law principle of subsidiarity, yes!” he explained, adding that from these premises, Puerto Princesa can stand by its decision. “Principle of subsidiarity states that all decisions must emanate from the lowest level,” he adds.
Filtering solution and gold rush
Tan, on the other hand, said the sudden boom of mining claims can be blamed on the low cost of filing fee for a claim. “Basically, anybody can file a claim. Now the big question here is, what are the filtering clauses?” he asked, saying that the DENR must look at each claimant to see if they have the money to make the investment. “Because if you are going to spend on benefits for the communities which is the basis of responsible mining. Immediate and sustained benefits for the community, do they have the money,” he said.
He also said that based on a study conducted by a team sent by the US Government, only 3% of mining applicants qualified under responsible mining standard. “So if Puerto Princesa filters, you don’t have to worry about the 97%. And all of a sudden that map that frightened all of us will be left with only 3% of those applicants,” Tan said referring to a map shown by Mayor Hagedorn.
Because of these Tan said, the country is experiencing a gold fever. “There’s a gold rush happening in the Philippines that’s why the map of Mayor Hagedorn looks like that. Everybody sees gold and it is making us crazy,” he said.
Unfinished CLUP
Tan also blames the unfinished Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of many towns and cities for the surge of mining applicants. “What mining companies are doing is they are taking advantage of this,” he said. While the zoning is still being figured out, mining companies enter with what he calls a “foot in the door policy.”
“This is dangerous because it denies local government and people a chance to make a free and clear choice based on fact. And by the time they decide and realize that mining should not be allowed, they are already in,” he said.
“We have to realize that they are trying to encourage decision making by political expediency and not using scientific and demographic facts and actual and social proofs which should be the basis,” he added.
