Environmental and human rights groups lauded the South Cotabato Provincial Board’s resolution against proposed coal mining operations in Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu, calling it a ‘victory’ of the people of South Cotabato, especially of Lumad groups that have struggled against continuous rights encroachment of private companies with business interests in the area.
According to Convergence of Initiatives for Environmental Justice advocacy officer and South Cotabato resident Rene Pamplona, the South Cotabato Provincial Board has once again staved off the prospect of coal mining in Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu by a six-four vote, with four in favor of the operation and six against.
“The Board has rightly resounded the long-held stance of South Cotabatos’ people: we firmly reject coal operations in our lands,” said Pamplona.
Pamplona cited Lake Sebu mountains’ at least 211 million metric tons of coal and Barangay Ned’s coal potential of about 27 million metric tons which he claimed to have attracted a flock of corporate interests on their land and, in turn, lead to a series of conflicts between businesses and the local communities.
“In spite of attempts from big businesses to promote the destructive profiteering off of a resourceich South Cotabato, the people have always fought back with their stance on putting primacy over the preservation of their environment and the welfare of their communities,” said Pamplona.
He said South Cotabato residents’ resistance against destructive projects such as coal mining stem from concerns over the environmental and social impacts of these projects.
Pamplona claimed that South Cotabato’s indigenous peoples are among those at the frontlines to these impacts.
According to Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) Executive Director Gerry Arances, other policies by the national government, such as its Executive Order 30, which seeks to “streamline” the approval process for energy projects, also pose greater threats to the safety of communities, especially of indigenous people, and to the securing of due process and consultation in light of large-scale energy projects, such as coal projects. (ceed)
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