British Caritas agency, CAFOD, says that mining giant BHP Billiton has responded to more than 6,000 cards, emails and letters of concern about a new Philippines mining project that the agency says could put people and the environment under threat “Our ‘Kept in the Dark’ report, released in October 2008, highlighted how the community of Macambol in the Philippines has been kept in the dark about a proposed mine on their lands,” the CAFOD agency says.
The CAFOD report found that the process to secure indigenous people’s consent for the mine to go ahead, as required under Filipino law, was seriously flawed.
CAFOD Director Chris Bain wrote again to BHP Billiton last month to highlight our supporters demands for action. He also expressed disappointment at the company’s lack of transparency in failing to publish its audit of the consent process.
In response, BHP Billiton said that they are still committed to the project but that an ongoing dispute with their joint venture partner AMCOR has led to work being suspended.
This partnership has been highly controversial. People living in Macambol claim that AMCOR offered bribes to members of the community in return for supporting the proposed mine, CAFOD says.
Some government and media reports indicate that the dispute is on the verge of being resolved.
This view is endorsed by a statement from 25 community leaders from local activist group MMSAID: “We are certain that sooner or later, they [AMCOR and BHP Billiton] will kiss and make up to start the biggest nickel operation in our region.”
“The economic value of the nickel mining company may be great as it is expressed in billions of pesos,” they continue.
“But to us farmers and fisherfolks, our life source that is Pujada bay and Mount Hamiguitan range is priceless, because for years our parents and kin have lived and reared their families here.”
CAFOD policy analyst Sonya Maldar added: “While we are pleased that dialogue with the company is continuing, this new letter shows that BHP Billiton has not moved any further forward in addressing our concerns about environmental damage and the rights of indigenous people.
“Your campaigning has helped shine a light on BHP Billiton. The company now knows that thousands of members of the public are watching what they do and are standing up for the rights of people in Macambol.”
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