The Philippine Breast Cancer Network (PBCN) fully supports President Joseph Estrada's reported plans to abolish the 1995 Philippine Mining Act allowing foreign mining companies to operate in the country and the recall of Presidential Administrative Orders allowing mining firms to operate in tribal domains.
The Philippines today has the highest incidence of cancer in the entire region and this move of the President is consistent with the objectives of the Total Ban on Incinerators - that of providing safe food, water and air to the Filipino people. The recently held World Conference on Breast Cancer in Ottawa, Canada on July 26th-31st has clearly shown the direct link of the environment to the rapid increase of breast cancer worldwide.
In March 1996, mine tailings and other poisonous substances spilled into the Boac River from Marinduque Copper Mining Corporation's Tapian Pit after a mild earthquake hit the province. This disaster has left the river virtually dead. The Canadian firm, Placer Dome which owned 40% of Marcopper has been able to walk away from their criminal liability and the Department of Environment & Natural Resources has done nothing about it. This Canadian firm was even arrogant to state that the spill could have been prevented had they been allowed to pump the waste into the ocean - a practice that has been banned in their own country as well as in the United States.
In April 1999, 700,000 metric tons of mud with cyanide-laced mine waste from an impounding pond of the Manila Mining Corporation (an affiliate of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co., the country's top producers of gold, copper and silver) flowed into the Mapaso Creek and swamped 51 hectares of riceland and fishing grounds in Placer, Surigao del Norte. To this date, the disaster is still under study by the Department of Environment & Natural Resources.
Guihulngan, a small rural town 116 kms. north of Dumaguete City has the highest incidence of breast cancer in the entire province of Negros Oriental. Cordillera Autonomous Region, a mountainous area with minimal industrialization having the lowest population and density in the entire country now has cancer as it 3rd leading cause of death and an incidence rate that has increased 53% from the previous five-year average. Eastern Visayas, considered the most backward region in the country also has cancer as its 3rd leading cause of death. What is common to all of them is the heavy presence of mining explorations and operations - whether local or foreign.
DENR and BOI officials are working together to convince President Estrada to change his mind as they caution him on the disastrous effect of such a move - that the Preident was ill advised. Both of these government regulators are more concerned of the interests of foreign investors. They care not at all whether our country is laced with mercury and cyanide causing our people to get cancer for as long as the price is right.
The PBCN strongly urges President Estrada to proceed with this landmark decision which will reverberate in the entire country and the whole world that he truly cares for his people, most specially the poor who have nothing but their lives. This is one concrete step in the eradication of breast cancer.
