MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 20, 2012) – Organizations and mining-affected communities in the island provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (MIMAROPA) signed the “Sibuyan Declaration” in their vow to protect and defend their lands and seas against mineral extraction.
From the Regional Assembly held recently, the groups officially launched the Cooperation of Small Islands-MIMAROPA (CSI-MIMAROPA), and together the groups will campaign against any form of development aggression that will negatively affect the beauty of their islands.
In their declaration, the provinces vowed to defend the islands from mineral extraction.
The Sibuyan Declaration reads: “Defending MIMAROPA Islands, Securing the Future from Mineral Extraction.”
Converging our efforts to defend our island ecosystems from ridge to reef to sustainably address the needs of the present generation and secure the future of the next.
“WE, as concerned mining-affected communities from Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, united to protect our lands and seas, shall:
STRENGTHEN our regional cooperation for environmental justice and protect the epicenter of marine biodiversity of the country
BROADEN support to communities to confront the impacts of climate change and hazards,
ENGAGE government at all levels and communities to promote eco-cultural, historical tourism and sustainable initiatives, and
Help ENSURE food self-sufficiency and recognize the interdependence of island provinces.
In the genuine spirit of Sustainable Development, Intergenerational Responsibility and Precautionary Principle, we therefore CALL for a regional
mining moratorium and make Agriculture and Tourism as core focus for development;
CANCELLATION of all mining applications and REVOCATION of all existing mining licenses and permits.
RECOGNITION of our local government’s autonomy to disallow mining in their respective territories and utmost RESPECT for our indigenous peoples’ genuine Free, Prior and Informed Consent processes.
For a healthful and balanced ecology, for our island-people’s general welfare; to progress within the carrying capacity of Nature:
We demand that the Mining Act of 1995 (Republic Act 7942) be scrapped and urgently enact the alternative minerals management bills pending in the House of Representatives and Senate Bill No. 3126 – “A Bill to Regulate the Rational Exploration, Development and Utilization of Mineral Resources, and to Ensure the Equitable Sharing of Benefits for the State, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, and for Other
Purposes.”; and
We urge President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to declare Key Biodiversity Areas, Island Ecosystems, Critical Watershed Areas, Geo-Hazard Areas, Natural Forests, Eco-Tourism Zones and Agricultural Lands as MINING NO-GO ZONES.
As a regional convergence, the CSI–MIMAROPA, we shall stand up learning the lessons of the past to act on the challenges of the present and face confidently the future to make our islands the best places to live in without chaos in the grand harmony of Mother Nature.
The Declaration was signed on Sunday in Sibuyan, where the world’s densest forest flourishes, the Philippine’s cleanest inland body of water flows and the majestic Mt. Guiting-guiting dwells.
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