Tampakan Mining: Danger Ahead

Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center

31 Mar 202207:15

Summary

TLDRThe transcript highlights the controversial Tampa mining project in the Philippines, which involves one of the world's largest open-pit mines. Despite previous local opposition and a 2010 ban on open-pit mining in South Cotabato, the government is reconsidering lifting this ban. Environmental concerns, threats to food security, water sources, and risks related to climate change are central issues raised by residents and civil society groups. The 2021 executive order lifting the ban on new mining projects has reignited fears about the environmental and human rights impacts of mining in the region.

Takeaways

⛏️ The Tampa Can gold and copper mining project is a major initiative led by Sagittarius Mines, Inc. and covers an area as large as the city of Manila.
🌍 This mining project is one of the largest open-pit mines globally, located across the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and Davao del Sur.
🚧 Open-pit mining involves the removal of surface layers of mountains to extract minerals, which has significant environmental impacts.
✊ Local residents and civil society groups have opposed the project for years, leading to the 2010 South Cotabato code banning open-pit mining.
🔄 Despite the 2010 ban, the South Cotabato government is now reconsidering lifting the prohibition on open-pit mining.
⚖️ Activists argue that upholding the local environmental code is essential for protecting future generations and ensuring the safety of communities.
🚱 Concerns include threats to food security, water sources, and the risk of natural disasters, especially in light of climate change.
📢 The project faces criticism for not offering genuine, sustainable development and for disregarding environmental regulations and human rights.
📜 In 2021, a presidential executive order (EO 130) repealed the ban on new mineral agreements, which critics say makes opposing harmful mining projects more difficult.
🏛️ The South Cotabato government is at a crossroads: whether to uphold environmental protection or allow the resumption of destructive mining practices.

Q & A

What is the Tampakan Gold-Copper Project?
-The Tampakan Gold-Copper Project is a large mining venture by Sagittarius Mines, Inc. It covers an area roughly the size of Manila and is considered one of the largest open-pit mining projects in the world, located across South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and Davao del Sur in the Philippines.
What type of mining method does the Tampakan Project use, and why is it controversial?
-The project uses open-pit mining, which involves excavating the surface of a mountain to extract minerals. This method is controversial due to its invasive nature and the environmental damage it causes.
How did residents and civil society groups initially respond to the Tampakan Project?
-Residents and civil society groups opposed the project strongly, leading to the South Cotabato government passing a local code in 2010 that banned open-pit mining. Many believed this would permanently halt the project.
Why is there renewed concern about the Tampakan Project?
-There is renewed concern because the government of South Cotabato is now considering lifting the ban on open-pit mining, which would allow the project to move forward despite past opposition.
What are the main environmental and social concerns associated with the project?
-Key concerns include threats to the food supply, watersheds, and water sources, as well as potential harm to the safety and well-being of local communities. There are also worries about disregard for environmental regulations and human rights violations.
How does the project relate to the issue of climate change?
-Opponents argue that the project increases the risk of disasters related to climate change, such as landslides and flooding, due to the extensive environmental degradation caused by open-pit mining.
What did the 2010 Provincial Environment Code of South Cotabato achieve?
-The 2010 Provincial Environment Code implemented a ban on open-pit mining, which was seen as a major victory by opponents of the Tampakan Project, as it legally prohibited such mining methods in the province.
What recent developments have reignited the mining debate in the Philippines?
-In 2021, the Philippine president signed Executive Order 130, which repealed the ban on new mineral agreements. This change in policy has made it more difficult for communities to oppose destructive mining projects, including the Tampakan Project.
Why do critics believe that Executive Order 130 is harmful?
-Critics argue that Executive Order 130 is harmful because it opens the door for more mining projects, which can lead to environmental destruction and make it harder for local communities to fight against such projects.
What is at stake for the government of South Cotabato regarding the Tampakan Project?
-The government of South Cotabato faces a critical decision: whether to lift the ban on open-pit mining and allow the Tampakan Project to proceed, or to stand by its previous commitment to protect the environment and its constituents.

Outlines

00:00

⚠️ The Threat of the Tampakan Mining Project

This paragraph introduces the controversial Tampakan Gold-Copper Project, one of the largest open-pit mining initiatives in the world. Located in the Philippines, it spans an area equivalent to the size of Manila and affects four provinces: South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and Davao del Sur. The method of open-pit mining, which involves removing large sections of a mountain, has raised significant environmental concerns. Local residents and civil society groups had initially succeeded in banning open-pit mining in South Cotabato in 2010. However, despite previous resistance and the ban, there is now a push to lift this restriction, reigniting fears over the project's environmental and social impacts. Advocates stress the importance of upholding the ban to ensure the protection of natural resources and the well-being of future generations.

05:37

🌍 Environmental Concerns Amidst Political Shifts

This paragraph discusses the broader political context that has contributed to the resurgence of the Tampakan mining project. It highlights how the environment should be prioritized, and natural resources must benefit the Filipino people. However, in 2021, the Philippine President signed Executive Order 130, which repealed the ban on new mining agreements. This policy shift has raised concerns about the increased difficulty communities will face in opposing environmentally destructive mining projects. The looming question remains: will the South Cotabato government uphold its environmental protection duty, or will it succumb to pressure and allow destructive mining operations to proceed?

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Tampa Mining

Tampa Mining refers to the mining project of Sagittarius Mines Incorporated (SMI), covering a vast area in the Philippines, including parts of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and Davao del Sur. It is one of the world's largest open-pit mining projects. The video highlights the environmental concerns and controversies surrounding this project.

💡Open-pit mining

Open-pit mining is a destructive method of extracting minerals by excavating large sections of the Earth's surface, in this case, mountains. The video explains that this method damages ecosystems, threatens water sources, and poses significant environmental risks. It is central to the controversy surrounding Tampa Mining.

💡South Cotabato

South Cotabato is one of the provinces in the Philippines directly affected by the Tampa Mining project. In 2010, the local government passed a law banning open-pit mining to protect its environment, but the video discusses recent efforts to reconsider and potentially lift this ban.

💡Environmental code

The environmental code refers to the provincial law in South Cotabato that prohibits open-pit mining. This law was designed to safeguard local ecosystems, prevent environmental degradation, and protect residents' well-being. The video emphasizes the importance of maintaining this code in the face of new pressures to repeal it.

💡Sagittarius Mines Incorporated (SMI)

Sagittarius Mines Incorporated is the corporation behind the Tampa Mining project. SMI aims to extract valuable minerals like gold and copper from the area, but their operations have faced strong opposition due to environmental and human rights concerns, which are central themes in the video.

💡Executive Order 130

Executive Order 130 was signed by the president in 2021 to lift the national ban on new mining agreements in the Philippines. The video criticizes this decision, arguing that it makes it harder for local communities to resist harmful mining practices like those proposed by SMI.

💡Watersheds

Watersheds are crucial areas where water is collected and distributed to rivers, lakes, and aquifers. The video highlights how the Tampa Mining project threatens these watersheds, endangering local water supplies and contributing to broader environmental risks.

💡Sustainable development

Sustainable development refers to growth that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The video argues that the Tampa Mining project fails to offer genuine sustainable development, as its environmental costs outweigh any short-term economic gains.

💡Human rights

Human rights in the video are connected to the safety, health, and livelihoods of local residents who are directly affected by mining operations. The video argues that the Tampa Mining project disregards these rights, as the environmental degradation could lead to displacement, health hazards, and loss of resources for the local communities.

💡Climate change

Climate change is a global issue exacerbated by destructive activities such as open-pit mining. The video points out that projects like Tampa Mining increase the risk of disasters linked to climate change, such as flooding and drought, due to the destruction of natural barriers and ecosystems.

Highlights

Tampa mining project is a significant open-pit mine project covering an area similar to the size of Manila.

The project spans across South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and Davao del Sur provinces.

Open-pit mining is an invasive method that damages the environment by excavating mountain surfaces to extract minerals.

Local residents and civil society groups have opposed the Tampa mining project for its environmental impact.

South Cotabato's government passed a code in 2010 banning open-pit mining, which seemed to halt the project.

There is now a proposal to lift the open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato, potentially reviving the Tampa project.

Local authorities are urged to uphold the provincial environment code to protect the environment.

Concerns about the project include risks to food supply, watersheds, and water sources.

The project raises concerns about safety, well-being, environmental regulations, and human rights.

Climate change-related disaster risks could increase due to the mining project.

The provincial government is being urged to prioritize environmental protection for future generations.

The mining project is criticized for lacking genuine, sustainable, and equitable development benefits.

In 2021, Executive Order 130 was signed, repealing the ban on new mineral agreements.

Executive Order 130 has made it more challenging for communities to oppose destructive mining projects.

There is a question about whether South Cotabato will prioritize environmental protection or allow the mining project to proceed.