The Dapitan
Declaration
We have witnessed the
destructive effects of mining on human and other life forms -
violations of peoples' rights, fish kills, environmental destruction,
pollution, and dreaded diseases - which are glaring in the cases of
Canatuan in Zamboanga del Norte and the communities in Marinduque.
This cannot go on. There are alternative ways of organizing and
understanding our world and how we want to live.
We believe in the
initiative of committed individuals to convince others and lead to a
growing number of advocates.
We declare that given the
current state of the mining industry and our current economic and
political set up, there can be no sustainable mining as contained in
the proposed National Minerals Policy. We commit as individuals, not
only to oppose the current legal framework provided by Republic Act
Nos. 7942 and 7076 but also to increase public awareness of these
issues.
We commit to contribute
to do whatever we can as individuals to uphold indigenous peoples'
rights and achieve a more ecologically sound, gender-fair, equitable
system of resource management.
We will work for a
democratic and consultative process in enacting a new legal framework
to achieve a wise stewardship of our natural resources based on the
following principles:
Everyone should
share in the burden of satisfying resource needs primarily through
re-using and recycling existing mineral products.
In land and water
use, the concerns of food security, which includes food free from
pollution, livelihood production, ecological balance, equity, and
social justice should always be the priority.
Only resources that
are necessary for domestic use and national industrialization should
be utilized. We should develop our own human resources and encourage
the evolution of our own appropriate technologies.
Priority should be
given to community-based,community-initiated and community-owned
stewardship of resources.
There should be no compromise on human
rights, dignity and collective identities.
At minimum, we call for:
The immediate
cancellation of all existing financial and technical assistance
agreements (FTAAs), mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs),
exploration permits, and other mining agreements, licenses and other
instruments because they are all based on a highly flawed system;
The scrapping of RA
7942 (Philippine Mining Act), RA 7076 (Small-scale Mining Act); PD
463, and all related laws that are oppressive to the people;
A moratorium on the
issuance of large-scale mining permits, licenses, agreements and
other instruments for one hundred years;
Rehabilitation,
restoration of mining areas and accountability of mining
corporations for the destruction that they caused;
upholding workers'
rights; and
Prohibiting state
and privately sponsored armed groups from areas where there are
current and prospective mining operations.
We believe that our
individual commitments will grow into a voice of millions of
Filipinos. It will be impossible not to heed our call.
This is our legacy to
future generations.
Dapitan City,
Philippines. 11 October 2002.
Signed.
Mr. Carmelo M. Acuña
Fr.
Victor A. Fontejon
Fr. Susano 'Sonny' O. Arbas
Ms. Carminia
"Chin-Chin" A. Gutierrez
Atty. Gerthie Mayo-Anda
Atty.
Marvic M.V.F. Leonen
Fr. Albert Anthony K. Bael
Sr. Rosanne B.
Mallillin
Bishop Warlito P. Baldomero
Bishop Jose R.
Manguiran
Mr. Edgar Canda
Fr. Lauro 'Dodong' C. Mozo
Ms.
Lyda Jara Canson
Ms. Joji Carino
Director Antonio 'Butch' D.
Perez
Engr. Rolando A. Soliva
Mr. Teddy A. Casiño
Ms.
Maria Lourdes 'Lulu' M. Tison
Engr. Catalino 'Bong' L. Corpuz
Mr.
Alberto 'Alvin' G. Valerio
Ms. Tesa C. De Vela
Prof. Cesar H.
Villanueva
Bishop Zacarias Jimenez
Archbishop Jesus Dosado