Over-all there will be 2.7 billions tonnes of rock and tailings: 1.6 waste rock and 1.1 tailing.
In addition, a mountain of toxic waste rock.
These pose very serious threat not only to living beings – human, flora and fauna, but also to structures: homes, public buildings, bridges, etc.
Sixty-four priests – 40 diocesan, 19 Passionist, 3 Dominican and 2 Capuchin, attended the recollection on 13 September 2011 at 73rd Infantry Battalion, Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani. Lt. Col. Adolf Estpuelas, CO.
Topic: “Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC). An Integration of Jesus’ PropheticMission.
Wandering prophet/sharer was Fr. Rey Carvyn Ondap, CP. Ordained priest 11 May 2009 at Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish,GeneralSantosCity. Appointed Assistant Director/Econome, CatholicMissionto Indigenous People and since 04 November 2009, JPIC Coordinator.
Both Scriptures and Church’s Magisterium are passionate about JPIC.
Jesus’ Prophetic Action.
Jesus’ prophetic examples: Beatitudes, Ministry and passion for the poor, lowly, hungry, suffering, oppressed and peace-making. To follow Christ means identifying oneself with the marginalized and the crucified who thirst for life.
Essentials to the Church’s mission of liberating people are: a passion for justice, a desire for peace and an interest in conserving the integrity of the whole of creation.
Issue to focus: update on SMI Xstrata open pit mining: Tampakan copper-gold project.
June 28, 2011. SMI’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) presentation at Cinco Niñas Restaurant,KoronadalCity.
August 11, 2011, SMI’s Environmental Statement (EIS) presentation at Cinco Niñas.
EIA – assessment of all their findings during research.
EIS – final result/statements of the assessments and answers to the questions raised.
Both EIA and EIS are DENR’s requirements for the EMB (Environmental Management Bureau) to issue an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
Project proponents: (SMI – EIS, April 2011)
Project Location
Regions XI and XII.
Provinces:Davaodel Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani andSouth Cotabato.
Municipalities: Kiblawan, Colombio, Malungon and Tampakan.
Barangays: Kimlawis, Bulol Salo, Tacub, Datal Biao, Malabod, B’laan, Danlag,PulaBato and Tablu.
Major Project Components:
1) Open Pit
Total Area for open pit: 7.5 sq. kms.
Copper - 375,000 tonnes per annum
Gold - 360,000 ounces per annum
Total Project Cost - US$ 5.9 B.
2) Mine Site
Total Area - 9,605 has. Ancestral land – 74%.
Forest land - 19%. Alienable – 7%
Forested Area - 36% woodlands; 50% croplands; 10% (buildings); 4% others.
3) Waste Rock Storage Facility (WRSF)
About 500 has., 70-355m. from the ground. 1.35 BT be stored. 90% PAF (Potentially Acid Forming).
4) Tailings Storage Facility (TSF). High arsenic content. MalRiverValley, 10 kms. East from open pit site. Total area: 1,300 has., 200 m. deep, 2.1 kms. long. Stores: 1.1 BT capacity. Embankment to be progressively raised to provide enough storage and would be ultimately 280 m. high and 2.1 kms. long (SMI – EIA. Overview document).
5) Mine Infrastructures: a) ore and waste rock conveyor; b) ore handling facility, including crusher; c) concentrator and associated ore processing facilities; d) workshop and maintenance facility.
6) Fresh Water Dam (FWD)
Location: on theMalRiver. Capacity: 215,000ML. Height: 150m. Depth: 800m
IMPACT OF OPEN PIT on:
1) Headwaters of the drainage catchments of Atlayan, Mainit, Manteo, Dalul, Mal and Taplan rivers system.
2) 4,000 inhabitants (870 households) to be relocated. 70% IPs, 30% non-IPs.
3) Clearing on 3,935has., 1,310 has. rainforest.
4) Destruction of flora (1,000 species) and fauna (280 species).
COUNTER SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS TO ESIA (Environmental Social Impact Assessment) by Clive Montgomery Wicks and Dr. Robert Goodland, London Working Group of Mining in thePhilippines. Both experts.
The Tampakan mine has a high potential for loss of life and damage to environment. High risks far outweigh advantages.
No mining in water catchments. Reforest and protect to ensure food.
Multiple and cumulative risks. a) militant activity (4 groups operate in the area); b) climate change; c) high seismic activity (4 major fault lines).
Human rights. IPs rely on water catchments for survival (They have CADTs on the mine site). Their right to water is prior to SMIs’ right. Pollution threatens life and food security.
Koronadal Valley shallow (50m. to 100m. deep) Aquifers would be polluted by toxins coming from the mine site. Agricultural lands, fish farming, particularly inLakeBuluan, would be affected adversely. The humans, too.
Conclusion.
Our passion for justice, peace and creation is a sharing in Christ’s prophetic action.
Let us act. NOW. TOGETHER!
Assumption Mission at Bolul, City of Koronadal, celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary on 15 August 2011.
Mass presider and homilist was Bishop Dinualdo. Eleven Passionist concelebrated.
His homily focused on the theme: “Mary’s Assumption: An Inspiration in Our Valuing Life and Respecting the Environment”.
Our situation is a struggle between God and Satan; between life and death. (cf. Rev. 12: 1-6).
Mary’s “Magnificat” (Lk. 1: 39-56) is a song of praise, thanksgiving and hope.
Mary proclaims the greatness of the Lord for the many good things received from God.
She has confused the proud and deposed the mighty from their thrones. Sent the rich empty away.
But he raised the lowly to high places; gave food to the hungry.
Stewards of God’s creation (cf. Gen. 2:15) are today fighting the destroyers of God’s creatures through open-pit mining.
The proposed open-pit is 3 kms. long, 2.5 kms. wide and 800 meters deep. (7.5 sq. kms.). Waste Rock Storage Facility (WRSF), 500 has., is 70-355 meters above ground. Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) at Mal River Valley, 1,300 has., up to 280 meters high and 2.1 kms. long. Fresh Water Dam (FWD) on Mal River has a storage capacity of 215,000 ML.
Impacts: (1) clearing on 3,985 has. (1,310 has. are rainforest) and agricultural land. (2) destruction of biodiversity: flora – 1,000 species; fauna – 280. Most are endemic to Mindanao; (3) seepage of contaminated water from the open-pit mining to the entire Koronadal Valley Aquifers (Shallow – 50-100 meters deep); (4) climate change; (5) flashfloods. Note: SMI will CONTROL distribution of safe drinking water!
As conclusion: Bishop asked the people: “Will you oppose open-pit mining? Strong answer: “YES”. Will you sign the statement opposing SMI’s open-pit mining? “YES!” was their answer.
Mr. Clive Montgomery Wicks presented to Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, Gov. Arthur “Dodo” Pingoy of South Cotabato and other priests, religious sisters and lay leaders the “Risks of Tampakan Mine Project” made by him and Dr. Robert Goodland, both experts on environmental sciences, on 25 July 2011 at the Bishop’s Residence. Fr. Frank Nally, Columban priest based in Londonwas with Mr. Wicks.
The Dioceses of Kidapawan, Marbel and Digos came out with a statement strongly opposing the proposed open pit mining of Sagittarius Mines, Inc. It will be published after the three bishops have signed the cover letter addressed to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III copies furnished the CBCP, DENR, EMB, MGB, ECIP, NCIP, CHR, LGUs, Media, Congress, etc.
This was clarified during the KIDMADI’s meeting, June 30, 2011, Bishop’s residence, City of Koronadal. Attendance: 21.
Around 100,000 signatures will be affixed to the Statement. These signatures will be sent to the Marbel Diocesan Social Action Center for transmission to Pres. Aquino et al. on or before July 29, 2011.
Ms. Belen G. Amdio, PSAC/JP/PPC Pres., Tampakan parish gave an overview of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on SMI.
Mining and Processing
1st stage. 500 has. to be mined through open pit. Dimension: 3 kms long x 2.5 kms. wide x .8 km (800 meters) deep. Mine sites: Brgys. Danlag,Pula Bato and Tablu, Tampakan. Resettlement areas: Gumamela (Pula Bato), Maltana,Liberty and Isting (Lampitak).
Ore processing. Conventional crushing and flotation methods. Average: 375,000 tonnes per annum of copper and 360,000 ounces of gold per annum.
Waste Management
Water Management
Two kinds: Tailing Storage Facility (TSF) and Fresh Water dam (FWD) systems. TSF – main source of water supply for project. FWD – main source of fresh water supply (215,000 metric liters, 150 meters high, 800 meters deep, 500 has. surface area). Malungon.
Mine Site.
Of the 9,605 has. 74% is ancestral land; 19%, forest land, 7% alienable. Forested area: 36%, woodlands – 50%; croplands – 10% built-up (buildings) – 4%.
Environmentally critical areas! Ancestral domain. Wildlife habitat.
Very high biodiversity:
a) Flora: 1087 morpho-species, including 247 species endemic toPhilippines(30% and 52 (6%) endemic toMindanao.
b) Fauna: 309 species: birds (184), mammals (49), reptiles (47), amphibians (29), most are endemic.
Other constructions: concentrator in Kiblawan. Conveyors from mining sites to Malalog port. Sediment dams in Kiblawan. Explosives Storage facility in Tampakan. TSF water Treatment Plant. Motopool. Permanent employees buildings. Warehouses – Village Administration Pipeline System (60 kms, 12” diameter, buried 1 meter deep, 11 meters easement). Power transmission System (230 KV at Malalag). Coal Fired Power Plant, Filter Plant,SeaPortinDavaoSur).
Tremendous damage to environment! Serious threat to food security and human life. Violent incidents.
NO TO OPEN PIT!!!
