KEY POINTS:
Anti-mining protesters in the Philippines are opposing further developments in a mountainous area near the site of Oceana Gold's gold and copper mine.
The Philippine Star newspaper reported that anti-mining villagers - already stirred up over having New Zealand-listed Oceana's operation in the area - are blockading an Australian-owned company, Oxiana Philippines, which is moving in equipment for prospecting another site.
The villagers, led by tribal elders and supported by environmental groups and the local Catholic Church, have vowed to stand their ground against the miner, despite a court order for them to clear the road leading to the exploration site.
Last week, provincial sheriffs, tasked to implement a court injunction, gave the residents of Kasibu until Tuesday to vacate the road leading to the exploration site or be forcibly dispersed.
But the anti-mining villagers vowed to stay on. "It is our roads they will be passing through," said Denny Dugay, a community official.
"And besides, we will never be in favour of mining." He said Oxiana did not consult local leaders on the project, an allegation which the mining firm denied.
But Mayor Romeo Tayaban said the New Zealand and Australian-owned companies continued to explore mining prospects in their villages despite the stiff opposition from residents, composed of various tribal communities.
His villagers were struggling to fight off three mining projects by Oxiana Philippines and Oceana Gold Philippines.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples both said residents in the primary impact zone had endorsed Oxiana's exploration project.
Engineer Jerrysal Mangaoang, MGB's Cagayan Valley regional director, said their national office granted Oxiana a two-year exploration permit covering 3000ha to explore for gold, copper and other minerals of commercial value.
The Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement and various local environmental groups said the Government should not have issued an exploration permit to Oxiana since its site is part of an important watershed.
Since July 12, tribal men have been guarding a barricade on a mountain road to prevent OPI's entry.
In nearby Papaya village, residents have also been protesting against the entry of equipment to be used by Oceana Gold for its exploration, fearing possible destruction of the watershed forest there. Water from the watershed irrigates the vegetable gardens and citrus plantations in the area.
In Didipio village, eight farmers were charged by environment officials with illegal occupancy of forest lands after they rejected Oceana Gold's offer to pay for their occupational rights.
Didipio is the site of Oceana Gold's proposed gold-copper project, with about 90ha of its 375ha production area occupied by tribal farmers.
- NZPA
