Prepared by Panalipdan Southern Mindanao Region

13 January 2012

The Pantukan Tragedy

The Pantukan landslide: A tragedy that is a combined result of the abject neglect of the government in the management of mining areas, rising poverty, and lack of livelihood opportunities in the countryside.

The area is endowed with rich mineral resources; mining has been ongoing in the past 30 years but still majority of the people are poor.

January 5 killer landslide •36 people dead•Undetermined number of persons missing

Mining applications in Pantukan

The Aquino government blamed the small-scale miners for the landslide. It ordered the stoppage of small-scale mining operations and forced eviction of small-scale mining communities.

Contribution of small-scale mining in ComVal to national revenues:

P26.6 billion gross production value in 2011

But it allows foreign large-scale mining companies such as US-based Russell Mining, Incorporated to continue its drilling operations in the area which covers 8 barangays, including Diat (the site of landslide) and has a total claim of 4,000 hectares.

US-based Russell Mining, Inc. will use open pit method to extract gold and copper in Pantukan. It is currently conducting exploration activities through drilling operations.

Due to Aquino government’s aggressive promotion of mining liberalization, there is a massive deployment of troops under Oplan Bayanihan in ‘mining development areas’ in Compostela Valley Province and Davao Oriental.

Our recommendations:

Strengthen the ‘minahang bayan’ of small-scale miners in Pantukan;

The local and national government must provide them support services including community-based disaster response/preparedness and sustainable and safer means of livelihood; and

No foreign large-scale zone in ComVal

DAGHANG SALAMAT!

Gikan sa Panalipdan-SMR