President Rodrigo Duterte’s lifting of the ban on new mining agreements amid the COVID-19 pandemic could cause more environmental degradation and affect Indigenous Peoples’ communities, senatorial aspirant and former Ifugao congressman Teddy Baguilat said Thursday.
Baguilat was referring to the moratorium that the President lifted last April via Executive Order 130, to maximize government revenues and stir economic growth.
“That lifting of moratorium on new mining deals is a sad development amid this pandemic because communities affected by these, including indigenous peoples [IP] have to be consulted. That is part of the process,” Baguilat said at the Pandesal Forum.
“How can you conduct consultations amid the COVID-19 pandemic when there are prevailing restrictions because of health protocols? I heard there are those who are saying consultations can be done online, but how can you do that when these communities are in the mountains where there is poor internet signal?” Baguilat, an IP leader himself, added.
Baguilat said that even before the mining moratorium was lifted, the coal moratorium announced by the Department of Energy appears to be leniently enforced since at least 3,800 megawatts of coal-powered generators are still set to be built.
“The government’s response is an invitation to further environmental damage which can aggravate the global climate situation,” Baguilat pointed out.
“These events have serious consequences, like the disruption of the country’s food supply, which can further harm the country’s economy and development,” he added.
Baguilat then urged the government to encourage economic activities that shift the country away from fossil fuel dependence to clean and renewable energy.
“I wish that the government would view the economy the way we indigenous people would look at it, that is, part of a whole that is made up of various systems that include the environment. Therefore, a sustainable environment is part and parcel of a healthy economy,” Baguilat said. — BM, GMA News
Baguilat: Lifting ban on new mining deals puts affected communities at risk
Source: Pinoy Hub News
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