Congress acknowledges company efforts to promote security in Canatuan
TVIRD President Eugene Mateo (middle) shares a light moment with Congressman Leovigildo Banaag and NCIP Legal Counsel Jeannette Florita during a break in the briefing. Banaag emphasized that TVIRD’s Mineral Production Sharing Agreement with the government preceeded the granting of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title to the Subanon in Canatuan.
The Philippine Congress Committee on Natural Resources has affirmed that TVI Resources Development (Phils.), Inc.’s Canatuan Project has brought in a lot of economic and social benefits to the ancestral domain of the Subanon indigenous people, including the promotion of economic activity and security in that part of the Zamboanga Peninsula, a post-conflict zone in Southern Philippines. This observation was made at a briefing made by company representatives on TVIRD’s Canatuan operations, attended by Committee members and officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) as part of Congress’ “continuing review of existing laws and relevant policies on mining and mineral resources development.”
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and its line agencies echoed the observation of the House Committee on Natural Resources that TVIRD has complied with all legal requirements, including free prior and informed consent of the Subanon, before the company started operations in 2004. (From left to right: Constancio Paye, Regional Director for Region 9, Mines and Geosciences Bureau MGB; Jeremias Dolino, DENR Assistant Secretary and MGB Director; Demetrio Ignacio, DENR Undersecretary; Leo Jasareno, Tenements Director, MGB; and Alan de Gala, Provincial and Natural Resources Officer, Environmental Management Bureau.)
Acknowledging that TVIRD enjoys prior rights over the domain claims of the Subanon, the Committee also noted that the issues raised against the operations are primarily due to the infighting within the Subanon tribe between two factions – on one hand the majority, which supports mineral resources development in Canatuan; and an opposing small minority on the other.
“Based on records,” TVIRD has “done a lot in terms of responsible mining,” Congressman Leovigildo Banaag, Committee Chairman, said. “Among other things, they have eliminated the nefarious practices of illegal small-scale mining.” Banaag was referring to the small-scale miner regime that operated in Canatuan prior to TVIRD and which is supported by the leader of the minority Subanon faction, Jose Anoy. Banaag enjoined the NCIP, through its legal counsel, Atty. Jeannette Florita, to resolve the tribal intramural so that the mining operations can move forward and continue to provide benefits to the Subanon and the country as a whole.
Atty. Pablo Bernardo, legal counsel of the Siocon Subano Association, Inc. (SSAI) concurred with Banaag, stating that in a unity meeting early this year with Anoy’s faction, SSAI accepted the latter’s recommendation for the conduct of a cultural mapping to settle the leadership issue that divides their tribe. But while SSAI wants the NCIP — being the government authority on IP matters — to do the mapping, Anoy prefers that to be done by an anti-mining non-government organization. SSAI is the legitimate representative of the ancestral domain beneficiaries.
Referring to allegations of militarization raised in earlier Congressional public hearings on TVIRD’s operations, Banaag observed that “TVIRD is being made to carry the brunt of security” in Canatuan. “Government should have a direct hand in security. It’s as if the moment they (TVIRD) received their Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA), the company was left alone.”
“The material basis of our national economy is our natural resources, properly harnessed through responsible mining,” he said. “Productivity in responsible mining operations, whether foreign or local, should be protected.”
DENR Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio agreed: “The government should defend that privilege” accorded to mining companies to develop mineral companies under the MPSA. “What the DENR can do is to take the lead in coordinating with other government agencies in ensuring that that privilege is protected.”
The Committee requested TVIRD President Eugene Mateo that it be allowed to visit Canatuan in June. Atty. Mateo granted the request in the spirit of the company’s open-door policy.