What is magnetite? Why are industrialised countries plundering this mineral? Can the people stop the extraction of black sand from rivers and seas by these foreign firms?

In the history of Northern Luzon, this is not the first time black sand is taken from the seas to get the black sand or magnetite. During Martial Law, the seas of La Union were already dug up especially in the towns of Aringay, Agoo, Bauang and Sto Tomas. This lasted for around four years from 1975 onwards. What countries these black sand were taken, nobody can tell. Most people know the company was called Filmag .

Magnetite has many industrial uses. This is used as material for making magnets, in construction, in paints or pigments as coloring even for make-ups, in food manufacturing, in steel production, for machines and equipment, kitchen utensils, in cement and many more. Thus, magnetite is a precious mineral.

It was discovered recently that if you separate titanium and vanadium from black sand, it becomes even more expensive and useful. Titanium and vanadium are very useful in the technological world. Titanium is a lot lighter than steel but is harder than steel and more importantly does not easily heat up and does not corrode.

Modern airplanes, satellites, drones and even bombs and missiles were made with titanium because it is lightweight but hard and it does not rust. Even medicine benefited with the use of titanium. Heart pacemakers, implants, hearing aids, surgical instruments use titanium because even blood and body fluids could not rust it and can stay in the body of a patient for a long time or better it can even outlive the patient. Computers, electronic equipment and computer peripherals manufactured lately are increasingly using titanium for the qualities of the mineral.

Vanadium is used for industrial purposes. It is used as cladding for steel and iron to make them rust proof and stronger. Vanadium is used in making cars, axles, carpentry equipment, in ceramics and glass. It is also used in jewelry, batteries and as superconductor. Vanadium also has some uses for marine life since most fishes and sea cucumbers are found to have traces of the element in their system.

It is of no surprise then why magnetite has become a precious commodity. And due to the character of the mineral, mining companies have discovered cheap ways to separate the titanium and vanadium from magnetite and sell these more expensively than the magnetite.

Iti is also no wonder then why foreign companies have been interested in the acquisition of huge quantities of black sand. The foreign companies took advantage of our weak implementation of laws on mining to skirt the requirements so they can plunder our natural resource as blatantly as taking these black sand from our own backyards, parks, beaches and worse from protected biodiversity areas.

From Pangasinan to Ilocos Norte, mining companies have applied and were granted permits to mine black sand. About 23,000 hectares in the coasts of Ilocos region have been allocated for black sand mining. Luckily for La Union due to the experience of Martial law extraction, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has issued a resolution to ban/deny the extraction of black sand from their beaches.

The biggest application was granted to Colossal Mining Corporation with coverage from Pangasinan to Ilocos Norte and to Cagayan. Around 14,000 hectares in Region I and 13,000 hectares in Region II were granted for extraction by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Natural Resources to Colossal Mining alone! MinProcess Group has an approved permit for 8,942 hectares in the shores of Pangasinan.

In Cagayan, mining permits were given by the DENR national office, the governor and local mayors. With the local authorities, small scale mining permits were applied for while “river dredging” was the reason given by the foreign companies in extracting black sand from the Rio Grande de Cagayan and Wangag river. So, while Sta Ana officials said NO to magnetite mining, Aparri, Lallo, Camalaniugan, Gonzaga, Buguey permitted magnetite mining on their rivers and beaches. Platinum Group has about 2,000 hectares approved permit for Sanchez Mira to Ballesteros, Buguey and Gonzaga. Mineral Frontier Resources and Development Corporation has an approved permit for 1,842 hectares in the shores of Sanchez Mira, Pamplona, Abulog and Ballesteros.

It seems the ones mining now in Cagayan are Taiwanese or Chinese and Koreans. The real estate construction booms in these countries makes them gobble up sand not from their beaches or seas but from Philippine seas. One questions the hoolabaloo over the dispute in the small islands of the Spratlys compared to the mega tons of black sand they can mine from Northern Luzon alone. With the sand they have taken from our shores and rivers, they could build more islands than those in the disputed territory. And you wonder why this government does not raise hell in preventing the mining of our precious metals which we can also use for our own building and technological purposes.

At the losing end of this plunder of black sand are the people. The fisherfolks who lose livelihood and property, the ordinary citizens who have to bear the brunt of more expensive marine products that were once so abundant, the children who do not have beaches to play in because the backhoe and loaders are removing the sand, the people who once reveled in the family gatherings by the beach or rivers. We are now feeling the scarcity of marine resources because the murky waters of the rivers and the seas have driven away the fish fry and destroyed the marine habitat. Food insecurity will be one result if the continuing plunder of the black sand is not stopped.

The loser in this plunder is us. And to borrow from the Occupy Wall Street movement, the biggest losers are we who are the 99%.

It cannot be denied that the floodings and beach erosion especially in Agoo, Aringay and Bauang are the effects of the magnetite mining so many years ago. It cannot be denied that the flooding and river bank erosion of Lallo, Camalaniugan and Aparri, of such magnitude and frequency is the effect of the mining of black sand in the Cagayan River . It cannot be denied that the flooding of the barrios of Punta and Bisagu in Aparri are the direct result of magnetite extraction on the very beaches of Aparri. Buguey is still lucky its sand dune barriers have not been exhausted but soon these too will be carried to foreign shores. We dread the disaster that is waiting to happen to the rich and fertile Buguey lagoon when all the sand is removed from the sabangan. Minanga, Gonzaga is losing its sand so it is now experiencing flooding.

The affected people of these areas have fought valiantly to stop the mining. To no avail. They have gained temporary victories by court orders and memo to cease operations. But the big foreign companies keep coming back for more and more and more sand.

The famous oceanographer Sylvia Earle in promoting conservation for the ocean’s resources has said that if there is no blue, there is no green. If we do not protect the forests, the oceans will not be protected for the water and minerals in the ocean come from the forests. If we do not protect the oceans, we would not have water and sand to hold the water, we would be in a state of flooding forever and no rains to water the forests. To which we add, if the black sand is gone, the land will be washed away, flooding occurs, starvation occurs, no clean water, diseases then death will come. So if there is no black, there is no blue, there is no green. Lahat ng bagay ay magkakaugnay. Iisa lamang ang ating planeta. At iisa lamang ang iniikutan ng mga bagay-bagay.

Let us save our environment by making sure there is black, blue and green that is abundant, clean and sustainable. We must say NO to mining plunder in our mountains, lands, shores, seas and rivers so the next generation can still inherit the earth.

We must say NO to wanton disregard for the welfare of the people just because of the little money we get from permitting these large foreign companies to extract our mineral resources. Let us say NO to greed and selfish big foreign corporate interests. # nordis.net

APARRI, Cagayan — Community dialogues in magnetite mining affected communities expressed strong opposition to foreign companies mining the Rio Grande de Cagayan and the beaches of the Babuyan channel.

MINING. Magnetite mining in Punta Aparri. Photo courtesy of KADUAMI
A documentation mission organized by Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan Laban sa Dayuhang Kontrol na Pagmimina last August 15-19 in the towns of Camalaniugan and Aparri noted the opposition of the people to foreign mining in their barangays. The documentation mission was participated in by Amihan (women peasant organization in Cagayan), KADUAMI (Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan), Kagimongan (peasant organization) and Rural Missionaries of the Philippines.

In Allacapan, manganese mining is being done. The people have expressed alarm over the eroding riverbanks that caused scores of houses to be destroyed as well as infrastructures that were washed down the river during strong typhoons. Mothers expressed concern over their children’s health as they breath in the dust blown into thhe atmosphere by the black sand mining operations.

People of Sapping and Dugo in Camalaniugan recounted that prior to the entry of magnetite mining by foreigners who were “kusipet ti matada” (chinky eyed), river bank erosion was a meter or so. But after the extraction activities, the communities even in higher grounds now experience flooding and the river is eating up the riverbanks several meters at a time inland. The Rio Grande de Cagayan is now a menace instead of an aid to agriculture and livelihood.

Mothers recounted that a radio is a must during the typhoon season and they always listen to weather bulletins to prepare for flooding. They said that even if no storm signal is raised over Cagayan if the rains are strong over Magat dam and Chico river, they have always evacuated as the dam releases water and Chico river overflows. They said the worst flooding they experienced was during the Typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Juan where they were forced to live in their banca (Canoe) as water was slow to subside.

Fisherfolks whose livelihood depend on the river recount that the fish stock is now scarce. They attribute this to the murkiness of the water after the mining operations, so the fish migrate upstream where the waters are clearer. “Nalibeg ngaminen ti danum,” they lament, so the fishes have no more breeding and feeding areas.

They recount stories of catching plentiful delectable ipon that was once abundant in the river. Or the magical ludong that is a gift of the Cagayan river to the people of the valley. They hardly see a ludong anymore.

Merci, a former barangay official of Dugo, narrated how the people clapped when a barge filled with magnetite of the “kusipet ti matada” grounded in a shallow part of the river. “Gungguna yo a ta taktakawen yo ti darat mi!” (“Serves you right for you are stealing our sands”) the people shouted as the men on the barge were calling for aid. They celebrated the victory of the people of Jurisdiction, Lal-lo who evicted the boats and barges getting magnetite sand for illegally mining without permit.

When asked if the mining company or the local government unit informed them of the mining, they said no consultation happened. The officials had informed them that the river will be dredged but they were surprised when the boats and barges kept coming for more black sand. Many of them told the documentation team, “Basta lattan nga immay dagiti barko ken barge da. Agsubli-subli. No mapunno da, agsubli da manen.” (“The big boats and barges just appeared. They fill the barges with black sand, leave, then come back.”)

Many of the interviewees were once living in Felipe Tuzon across the river that evacuated to the centro and are now renting the lots where their houses stand from private individuals who were kind enough to provide them the space. At daytime, some of them go back to tend the fields that were not washed out in Felipe Tuzon to augment fishing that has now become scarce.

In Sapping, there is an ongoing riverbank rehabilitation project costing some P42 million for a 100 meter embankment. Lamented a mother, “If only that money were used to build schools and roads, we would be happier.”

The people of Punta and Bisagu in Aparri face the same problems on a magnified scale since the sea and the river flood them. The fisherfolks reported the same problem of riverbank erosion and reduced fish catch. Most of them have ready floaters in case of flood. Typhoon Juan soaked the marshy homeland of the people of Bisagu for more than a week.

Some of them evacuated to as far as Bukuig, Allacapan since the water rose so high and they could not cross Cagayan River. They said their evacuation plans involved the women and children going first and the men staying behind to care for the animals that could not be evacuated and stay on their roofs. If the roofs are breached, then the men follow with the animals in the boats. This happened during Typhoon Pepeng and Juan.

The older people narrated that the elementary school they went to was about a kilometer to the river that was eaten up by the rising waters and erosion. Now the school is built deeper inside the barrio but even then the floodwaters still reach it up to the windows. A sandbank now exists in the mouth of the Rio Grande de Cagayan where they gather firewood washed by the river during floods. They fear the coming of the next storm and the next flood since they said the waters keep rising each year.

Shellfish that used to abound in the banks are now gone. They recounted getting kaggo, unnuk and many more from the sand but now these can hardly be found. Like in Camalaniugan, sometimes they take a day off from fishing since they are just wasting their money for gasoline for a measly two kilos catch unlike five years ago when they used to fish everyday and their boats were loaded.

In Punta, the former barangay officials told the team that a meeting by local officials was called to inform the people that a canned goods factory was going to be built in Punta. Much to their surprise no factory was built instead a steady flow of barges getting black sand is what they witnessed. The area remains an informal settlers abode with the threat of demolition always hanging over them. The succession of elected officials promised to give them relocation areas but since it is a vote-rich place they have remained, with eviction any time looming.

The magnetite mining site in Punta does not bear any signage. But the compound houses four backhoes working 24/7, several dump trucks filled with black sand, mounds and mounds of black sand and “reject” as the people call them, separator machines and a drilling machine that shakes the houses of the people when operating. The people in the vicinity could not open their doors and windows since the wind will blow the dust inside their homes. They said the last ship left about two weeks before the documentation team arrived.

They described the ships as having suction hoses reaching the bottom of the river and spewing the “rejects” through another pipe (agsusop diay maysa, agpuswak ti reject diay maysa) while the barges that have earlier been filled continue to load the ships. As soon as the ships are full, they leave Aparri to ports unknown while the barges stay to fill up.

The magnetite mining from the ships or from the beach has been going on since 2008. The mining site is just moved from barrio to barrio. The people have expressed alarm at the damage the mining is causing but local officials seem deaf to their pleas.

A minor victory was achieved by the people of Gonzaga, Cagayan when the Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued a suspension of operations order against Lian Xing Phils. Stone Carving Co. Corp. and Huaxia Mining and Trading Corporation last April 29, 2011 for violating their contracts on magnetite mining. This, even as some leaders were charged with libel for airing the magnetite mining occuring in their areas.

The people on the river and the sea in Cagayan affected by magnetite mining continue with their opposition as they seek all means possible to preserve their fragile marine environment. # nordis.net

AMULUNG, Cagayan — Around two hundred women leaders of Cagayan attended the 3rd Congress of Amihan-Cagayan, a peasant women’s organization last August 13-14 here. The women represented organizations in 11 towns of the province.

The theme of the Congress was: Palakasin ang hanay! Paigtingin ang pakikibaka! Kamtin ang karapatan sa lupa, pagkain, kabuhayan at karapatan ng kababaihan at hustisya!

The women leaders discussed the national situation of peasant women with the deputy general secretary of AMIHAN national. They shared their experiences in organizing and campaigns especially to increase farm gate prices and lower agricultural inputs. They hailed their victories and vowed to persevere despite shortcomings from their ranks in the past three years.

The women acknowledged that they face big challenges and hot issues that confront not only the women but their families as well. The threat to food security is always looming with climate change and the destruction of the natural resources of Cagayan. Landgrabbing by multinational agricultural or mining corporations is a continuing threat. Government officials indifference, or worse, neglect is an experience that compels them to engage in dialogues to get necessary services especially in health and nutrition.

A focus group discussion on food security was conducted as part of the congress with emphasis on the right to food availability and accessibility. The discussion was initiated by staff of Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan (KADUAMI Inc). The Kaduami staff also conducted cultural workshops to introduce to the women some methods to empower women.

The children who were present in the congress also participated with their mothers. The mayor of the town of Amulung, Mayor Nicanor de Leon welcomed the women leaders on the second day and he narrated his agricultural program for the town with priority on irrigation infrastructure and farm to market roads.

The constitution and bylaws of the AMIHAN chapter was amended and promulgated while their program of action for the next three years prioritized the increase of membership to cover most towns of Cagayan.

Elected officers of AMIHAN-Cagayan for the next three years were: President – Jacqueline Ratin; Vice-President – Emnie Viscaro; Sec Gen – Felisa Terrado; Deputy Secretary – Lina Dagohoy; Treasurer – Julie Marcos; Auditor – 1 . Aida Agunoy; 2 . Kathy Valenciano; PRO – 1. Loren Cabildo; 2.Weddy Palting. # nordis.net

Large scale mining companies have reasons to celebrate. Mr. Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez, the President of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines spoke on this during the Mining Philippines Conference and Exhibit held last September 13-15, 2011 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza. He said mining is upbeat because [1] there is unparalleled increase in metal prices in the international market, [2] mining industry rebounded to a growth rate of 12.1% last year, and [3] the path to regaining mining’s old glory is fully supported by our government. According to him mineral exports, led by copper and gold, grew over 27% to US $1.87 billion from $1.47 billion in 2009. In the first quarter of this year, mining accounted for 4.3% of the country’s total exports at $513 million. For him, mining provided the boost to our economy against the backdrop of a global economic downturn in the second half of the year.

People Suffer

While mining companies celebrate, men, women, children and elderly in mining areas suffer. From reef to ridge, tons of non-renewable ores and minerals are extracted and the earth is ravaged. Philippine resources are plundered for the profit of the foreign big businesses. Northern Luzon is not spared. Mountains are stripped; fields, rivers and coasts are destroyed.

Farmers and fisherfolk are losing their livelihoods. Water tables are being destroyed which lead to loss of potable water for household consumption and loss of irrigation which makes it difficult for peasants to engage in agriculture. Rivers are being contaminated with toxic wastes from mine sites and make agriculture less productive. Coral reefs are being damaged by offshore mining and have made it impossible for fisherfolk to catch fish at the lower parts of the sea. Families are being displaced due to landslides, sinking grounds, and flooding caused and aggravated by mining operations. The health of the people is at risk with land, air, water and noise pollution caused by large scale mining. Bio-diversity is decreased while thousands of communities are endangered. Ancestral lands of indigenous peoples are grabbed by foreign mining companies and community leaders defending their environment are threatened, harmed or killed. Where mining applications have been approved and are in operation, militarization is increasing. And, after years of exploiting nature, big mining companies are unable to show any model of environmental rehabilitation in the Philippines. Hence, the right to social development of future generations is violated.

The Duty Bearers in Collusion with Big Business

Yet in the name of development, the Aquino government is willing to sacrifice the life of marginalized people. President Benigno Aquino III has shown his support for mining by selling the mining industry in his trip to the US and bringing along 15 mining companies as part of his delegation to China in August 2011. He personally witnessed the signing of four investment agreements between Filipino firms and their Chinese counterparts. President Aquino III disagrees with environmentalists’ call for a ban on mining because he believes prohibition would result in the spread of small scale miners. For him only large-scale mining has the capability to avoid environmental damage and to correct the damage to the environment. President Aquino is selling the Philippine minerals for $1 trillion to big mining investors from China, India, the Middle East and North America through public private partnership schemes.

Under the Northern Luzon Growth Quadrangle of the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan in 2000 of then President Ramos, mining was regarded a priority for investments. This was reiterated in the Super Regions and the Northern Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle visions of then President Gloria Arroyo. Thus in 2004, the Revitalized Mining Industry Program further opened up the provinces to the entry of big businesses in mining.

During the term of former DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes, the provisions in the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 banning offshore mining was circumvented by another executive order. Thus, the state allowed offshore mining for magnetite, titanium and vanadium along the coasts of Cagayan to Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan.

As gold prices and other metallic minerals shoot up, DENR MGB and even the NCIP is fast tracking the FPIC processes of IPRA to favor the mining companies which are scrambling to explore the gold and copper in the Cordillera and Ilocos regions. There are about 236 mining applications covering 1, 129, 209 hectares of Northern Luzon trying to cash in on the upward demand both for metallic and non-metallic minerals for the mega infrastructure in other developing countries.

To suit the interests of the foreign big businesses from China, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, England, Canada and US, the State itself is twisting different laws such as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems Act.

The People are Struggling

Meanwhile, individuals, communities and organizations have risen up to protest the destruction of the ecosystems and life itself. Multisectoral forums, dialogues and protest rallies have been happening all over Northern Luzon. Even some municipal governments have issued resolutions to stop the destructive large scale mining to avoid further damages to their environs. Nation-wide protests are growing because of the grave social cost which mining is incurring to the Filipinos.

The call of the times: A Northern Luzon Mining and Human Rights Summit

We are endowed with rich natural resources. According to the World Mineral Map, Philippines which is in the western fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a ground found to be super loaded with mineral deposits, is the 5th most mineralized country. Philippines ranks 3rd in gold, 4th in copper and 5th in nickel.

As marginalized Filipinos, we have to assert our rights to development and self-determination. Thus, the Northern Luzon Mining and Human Rights will be convened to provide an opportunity for the peasants, farmers, fisherfolks, indigenous peoples and advocates for the protection of environment and human rights to come together and discern the best possible solutions to the impacts of mining.

THR PARTICIPANTS. Photo courtesy of KADUAMI
Thirty eight development workers from Northern Luzon completed a course on multi-media documentation and Aid Effectiveness last Tuesday, July 5 at the Training Center of the Katinnulong Daguiti Umili ti Amianan (KADUAMI) in Bengao, Baguio City. John “Igan” Marasigan from Tan-aw Multimedia Collective conducted the multimedia training with an actual practice from the participants who were armed with cellphone cameras, DSLRs, video cameras and computers.
The participants were asked to present ten best shots of people, environment and interesting subjects which were then presented to the group for critiquing. The fun shoots showed some had an eye for detail, for lines and focus. Some pictures had stories to tell which is important if reports need to convey the situation on the ground.
The development workers who in performing their work have to produce documentation of their conditions and accomplishments are told to create reports with accompanying evidence in photo or other medium. If multi-media reports are incomplete, blurred or out of focus, those who need to know the conditions would be left with more questions than answers or would simply be bored with the reports.
Some tips in getting interesting shots were given with actual photos taken by master photographers. The guidelines from professional photographers showed the participants what happens to a picture if the camera angle is changed, moved or altered. The digital age has given a lot of leeway for amateurs to just shoot and shoot and edit or delete later, unlike when films were used and one had to “conserve” in order not to waste negatives.
Basic to photography in the digital age is to shoot and shoot since the moment could be lost in an instant, like in the case of a violent rally dispersal or disasters. However, documentors are always cautioned to observe safety measures and consider the sensibilities of viewers or readers. For example, shots taken showing the faces of mangled bodies in the bus tragedy at Naguilian road do not have to be included in the documentation.
Later, the participants reviewed photos or video they have taken with a keener eye for details, colors, focus and perspective. They related this with the stories they were telling and sharing to others.
An input “On the road to Busan: Aid Effectiveness and Development Effectiveness” was presented by Esther Roxanne B Veridiano, Executive Director of Kaduami. The 4th High Level Forum (HLF-4) in Busan, South Korea end of November this year will be attended by 2000 international delegates who will review global progress in improving the impact and value for money of development aid and make new commitments to ensure aid truly reduces poverty and make lives better.
HLF-4 is a milestone in that this is the first time that civil society organizations (CSOs) will participate in the discussions with the governments and aid agencies. A document entitled ‘CSOs on the road to Busan: Key messages and proposals’ is a common political statement written by CSOs all over the world. From earlier CSO fora that presented the positions and demands on the aid effectiveness process, “On the road to Busan” specifies the call to all development actors to fully evaluate and deepen the Paris and Accra declarations commitment; to strengthen development effectiveness through practices based on human rights standards; to support CSOs as independent development actors and commit to an enabling environment for CSO work in all countries; and to promote equitable and just development cooperation architecture. CSOs are also challenging governments to meet the Millennium Development Goals as set by the United Nations.
In the pre-consultations and in the HLF-4, CSOs will make clear that achieving human rights, women’ s rights, gender equality, decent work and environmental sustainability is the ultimate goal for development effectiveness and development cooperation. Democratic ownership should be the key.
Aid Watch Philippines, a groups of CSOs participating in the discourse on development effectiveness lists proposals to the government to more effectively use foreign aid. One, is to remove policy conditionalities and tied aid. Two, increase grant aid particularly for rural development, social services, gender, human rights and the environment (including climate change). Three, is for greater transparency and accountability in negotiation, design and implementation of aid programs and projects. Four, greater public participation and accountability to recipient country citizens in aid system. Lastly, clearer national policy on CSO involvement in ODA system e.g., mechanisms and procedures for meaningful participation of CSOs.
The Philippines use of aid, especially under the past regimes, were characterized with graft and corruption. The challenge is for the public and CSOs to be involved and closely monitor where aid is being spent and if it is being used wisely. As they say, at the end of the day, the taxes you pay should be spent properly and justly. # nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Reports from people’s organizations all over Northern Luzon show an increasing trend in development aggression. This was culled from the provincial surveys of people’s opposition to the encroachment of big, foreign corporate businesses in people’s lands and watersystems in the recently concluded KADUAMI 6th General Assembly. (see related article)

Development aggression happens when the people are not consulted in planning, implementation and exploitation of their resources and livelihood. Aggression happens when the people become incidental and victims of land grabbing, resource destruction and dislocation due to large-scale and corporate interests.

Cagayan province reported the growing opposition not only of people’s organizations to magnetite or black sand mining but also church and environment advocates.

Colossal Mining Corporation, a 100 % Filipino owned company that engages in exploration, mining, and production of iron ore in the Philippines, holds three exploration permits of 36,000 hectares of offshore magnetite iron ore sites in Northern Luzon (Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur) of which 13,483.89 hectares are located in the province of Cagayan alone, situated in the municipal waters of Sanchez Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Appari, Buguey and Gonzaga of Cagayan. Colossal Mining Corporation is a partner of Bonaparte Diamond Mines NL, the sole company based in Australia that conducts marine diamond exploration.

Offshore mining of magnetite in Cagayan can increase vulnerability to floods as magnetite holds the sand together. The absence of magnetite in the sand can deplete and erode the coastal and near-shore areas as the experience of Bauang, La Union had shown. Bauang municipal government is now putting up seawalls as a mitigating measure for flooding. The experience of the Bauang river overflowing and flooding the barrios during Typhoon Pepeng is a very concrete example of the disastrous impact of near shore mining.

Food security of indigenous peoples in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya is threatened by the large-scale mining operations of Oceana Gold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) and Oxiana-RoyalCo. At the same time, the FPIC process under the IPRA law brings disunity among the IPs residing in the mining-affected areas.

The areas stated in the mining permit granted to the mining companies are within an ancestral land applied by the Bugkalots for Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claims (CADC), through the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). The Bugkalots are discriminated as only migrants and not original people of the place.

Coal-fired power plants to tap coal deposits worth millions of dollars are planned for Cauayan, Benito Soliven and Naguilian in Isabela. American companies are partnering with the Philippine government to help energize not only Isabela but Luzon as well.

Thousands of farming families are fighting to keep their lands and have blocked the 50MW project. The PNOC-Exploration Corp. has announced this month that it will soon start the 50MW open-pit coal plant in Cauayan.

Cordillera has reported the most number of mining exploration claims among the three regions. Benguet alone has more than 37 permits for 117,000 hectares or 43% of the whole area of Benguet. Even the Abra river is not spared. A foreign firm is interested to mine its river aggregates. To think that the mine wastes dumped by Lepanto have polluted it.

The waters and watersheds of the mountain areas of Northern Luzon are also magnets for corporate interests as they drumbeat the need for energy and cheap energy sources. To date, the people of Northern Luzon have successfully stopped or delayed these huge, destructive projects.

The reports from the people’s organizations show communities bravely fighting these interests. The corporations have been using deception and military might to push their projects. The people’s organizations noted that communities experience human rights violations, militarization and rifts among them caused by the deception of the government, military authorities and big business.

In the face of the concerted effort to grab the people’s resources and livelihood, the people have steadfastly stood their ground. In the 6th General Assembly of KADUAMI they have renewed their pledge to continue protecting their people, land and livelihood, and their right to full development.# nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Katinnulong Dagiti Umili iti Amianan Inc (KADUAMI) held its 6th General Assembly on March 17-18 at the Benguet State University’s Training Center. KADUAMI holds a general assembly every three years.

The general assembly was attended by 110 delegates representing Kaduami’s partners from 120 people’s organizations and non-government organizations all over Northern Luzon. It provides an opportunity for partners to collectively reflect on development issues confronting the people of Northern Luzon.

The theme for the 6th assembly is “Empowering communities to assert their right to food and right to development, and promoting good governance in the context of climate change”.

The sessions started with a challenge from the acting chairman of Kaduami, Bishop Marino Inong. He reported that even if we faced many challenges in the last three years, the people proved to be resilient and creative in facing the concerns.

An input from the national chairperson of Kilusan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas, Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos provided the focalpoint for the assembly. He challenged the people of Northern Luzon to promote and uphold pro-people issues in the face of the financial crisis besetting the nation and the world.

He said that as a nation we are at the juncture of history where people’s organizations can stamp their aspirations even on governance and policies reflected in government. He symbolized people’s unities with the weaving of abaca of which one thread could easily break.

However, a tightly woven abaca rope could not be easily unraveled or broken and it could provide a strong binding for the people. He challenged the assembly to weave a strong unity by asserting our rights even in the face of the militarization we are now experiencing.

Four workshop groups discussed the problems, effects, interventions by the people and partner organizations and the response of duty bearers that confront the people of Northern Luzon. The four workshops were on climate change, development aggression, election and good governance, and human rights.

It was pointed out in the reports of the workshops that the four areas of concern are inter-related. For example, the destruction of watersheds in the Cordillera will result to floods in the lowlands. The construction of mega-dams in the Cordillera will result to floods in the lowlands. The entry of foreign corporate mining in the communities results in militarization and human rights violations follow in these areas and so on.

The workshop groups pointed out that food security can be achieved if the producers of food are provided the tools to revive, renew and propagate the seeds of the future. Upland and lowlands partnerships should be strengthened including research, to trainings and capacity building.

Evidence based knowledge and the collection/promotion of indigenous capacities should be institutionalized and nurtured. Campaigns and advocacies of the people should be promoted on a wider scale and not only on the community level. Destructive large scale, foreign and corporate businesses should be banned in the areas if a wholistic approach to development is to be promoted. It was also suggested that cross-learning activities should be promoted so communities can learn from each others’ advanced experiences and share with each other methodologies.

A bonus for the partners was an input on organic rice and vegetables farming, the production of bio-fertilizers, vermiculture and a visit to the showcase organic farm of BSU. Red rice and C18 rice produced by the demo farm of Kaduami was on sale at the venue, apart from other produce from the partner organizations.

Solidarity messages from partners locally and abroad were read. A review of the Constitution of KADUAMI and election of officers for the next period was done. A report on the next phase of KADUAMI from 2010-2012 as formulated by the partners themselves was presented. The assembly ended with a solidarity dinner with partner organizations.#nordis.net

Oct 25, 2008

It is our honor to extend the warmest greetings of Bayan Muna (People First) partylist to the Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan, Inc. (KADUAMI) on the occasion of its silver anniversary today.

Twenty five years of operations as a service institution to the people in the provinces of the Northern Luzon is quite an achievement, more so since you have served the less-privileged sectors of our society that we are all endeavoring to change for the better.

It is high time that while continuing your much-needed services to the people, you should now take stock of your achievements, learn the lessons of your first 25 years, and push on with your patriotic duty to the people and the nation.

We congratulate you for siding with the people at the most critical times in our country’s history. We encourage you to continue your good work in the pursuit of meaningful changes in our country towards total human development.

Mabuhay kayo!

Satur C. Ocampo

House Deputy Minority Leader

Representative, Bayan Muna

Teodoro A. Casino

Representative, Bayan Muna<

In behalf of GABRIELA Women’s Party, I would like to congratulate KADUAMI for the 25 years it has served the marginalized and less-privileged people of Northern Luzon.

The institution’s efforts to achieve the total human development of the peasants, workers, indigenous peoples, and most especially of women and children, are laudable.

GWP hopes that it will continue to work through its projects and programs, to assert the Filipino peoples’ basic rights and promote their welfare.

Thank you and happy 25^th Anniversary!

In the interest of the Filipino people,

Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan

GABRIELA Women’s Party