TVI presents comprehensive Position Paper to the House Committee on National Cultural Communities
Canatuan Mine Manager Yulo Perez addresses Congressional Representatives
TVI Resource Development Phils., Inc. (TVIRD) is committed to transparent and environmentally responsible exploration and mining practices that bring sustainable development to host communities. This was the message imparted by TVIRD officials to members of the Philippine Congress Committee on National Cultural Communities in a public hearing prompted by a Lower House resolution seeking an investigation into allegations of “encroachment” of TVIRD on the Subanon indigenous people (IP) in Canatuan (despite the Memorandum of Agreement and overwhelming community support).
Public Hearing in the Siocon Gymnasium
“Our doors are open,” Canatuan Mine Manager Yulo Perez told the three-man Committee, underscoring the company’s willingess to open communication lines with all stakeholders, including the anti-mining NGOs and special interest groups that have opposed mining and the Canatuan Project in this country and abroad. “We welcome a continuing dialogue in the hope that together we will be able to address issues relevant to our operations.”
Perez said the company welcomes the expansion of the Multipartite Monitoring Team to include members of opposition groups. The team will be formed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the Philippine regulatory agency for mining affairs.
Echoing the company’s position paper on the resolution, John Ridsdel, TVI’s international advisor on Corporate Affairs, told Committee members that mining development is the best alternative to bring progress to the Subanon indigenous people (IP) of Canatuan in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.
“The combined influx of capital and jobs as a result of the mining operations in the community has brought about economic and social benefits to the Subanon after suffering years of exploitation under the regime of illegal small-scale mining in their ancestral domain,” he said.
There is no substance to the concept of either ‘plight’ or ‘encroachment’, Eugene Mateo, TVIRD president, said. Our project enjoys the strong support of the Subanon IPs in Canatuan who have joined in the common effort of judiciously utilizing resources as a means of attaining economic and social progress, conscious of our responsibility to protect the environment.
Mateo added that the relationship between TVIRD and the Siocon Subano Association, Inc. (SSAI), the IPs legitimate representative organization, is going well with both parties coordinating efforts to optimize benefits from TVIRD’s Canatuan project. These benefits include employment, a substantial royalty, education, health care, agriculture and sustainable livelihood, infrastructure, independence and empowerment, as well as sustainable economic development. The partnership also put an end to illegal mining, exploitation of women and children, and corruption.
In the position paper, Mateo also revealed that TVIRD has taken the initiative of paying P1.85 million to the Municipality of Siocon under protest pending a Court decision on the legal dispute currently underway between the municipality and the company concerning a municipal assessment, which TVIRD contends is pursuant to a clause that is contrary to the Philippine tax code.
Addressing the issue of lack of social acceptability of TVIRD’s Canatuan project, Mateo pointed out that free, prior and informed consent was granted by the Subanon when 17 of the 30 members of the Tribal Council of Elder voted in favor of the project in a meeting arranged and supervised by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP).
The SSAI has concluded a Memorandum of Agreement with TVI that provides for a 1% royalty on gross revenues to be paid by TVI to the Subanon community, along with other benefits, he said. The SSAI and the community issued a manifesto with over 600 signatures in May 2004 supporting TVIRD in the face of false accusations against the company.
On allegations of militarization, Mateo clarified that the presence of Armed Forces of the Philippines and Special CAFGU Active Auxillary in the company’s Canatuan mines is a precautionary measure employed to maintain peace and order to the community.
Having invested more than $24 million into the Canatuan project, TVIRD is compelled to protect itself from criminal and terrorist elements who threaten to harm not only the company’s physical assets but, more importantly, its on-site personnel, Mateo explained. The urgency to protect itself became more pronounced for TVI when two ambush incidents occurred near the project site on March 13, 2002 and December 26, 2002 that resulted in the death of 15 and injuries to 20 TVIRD personnel and their relatives, mostly Subanon.
Mateo denied that TVI has been barring Mr. Anoy and Mr. Mato from coming up to Canatuan, pointing out that Mr. Anoy came up to Canatuan to look after his daughter’s children while TVI rushed her to hospital in Zamboanga City for an operation in childbirth (lives of both mother and baby were saved).
Since the deployment of SCAA forces most of them Subanon IPs themselves the people in Canatuan have been enjoying the benefits of security. NGOs who are truly helping the Subanon, as well as government workers under the KALAHI program are now prepared to go and work in Canatuan without fear, Mateo said.
Hundreds of Subanon from Canatuan poured down to Siocon, in Zamboanga del Norte, to express their support for TVIRD during the public hearing, which was prompted by the resolution filed by Joel Virador, party list representative of Bayan Muna (Nation First). He was joined in the hearing by Sulu island representative Amin Hussin of Lakas-CMD, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s ruling party; as well as by Mujiv Hataman, party list representative of Anak Mindanao (Child of Mindanao).
TVIRD is an affiliate of TVI Pacific, Inc., a publicly-listed Canadian mining firm. TVI Pacific accepted the invitation of the Philippine government to help create jobs as part of its macroeconomic thrusts under the National Development Agenda. Strong relationsips and strategic alliances in China and the Philippines have validated TVI as a business partner with integrity that creates economic opportunity while improving the environment for local people.