CAFOD blog

Children playing in Macambol, Philippines

In 1987, when I was working for an organisation called Justice and Peace, I had to document the death of more than 600 people who were residents and workers of a local mining site.

The disaster was due to the collapse of a giant tailings (toxic waste) pond situated on top of a mountain. The experience lingered in my mind for days… months… even years.

That is when my advocacy against mining started.

My work for Justice and Peace brought me to places to document, gather data and provide information on the advantages and disadvantages of extractive industries.

Here, I developed my faith which compelled me to join a group of priests, nuns and pastors to start an environment-based NGO – the Interfaith Movement for Peace, Empowerment and Development (IMPEDE).

In 2000, we started to listen to people’s laments on extractive mining in Davao Oriental (a province on the Philippine island of Mindanao).

Our work was not easy. Many times government officials accused us of being a violent leftist group or being anti-development saboteurs!

A few years ago, I was invited to attend a BHP Billiton-initiated mining forum. There, I articulated my stance on nickel mining in Macambol, which was met with comments such as: “Why do you still wear clothes with accessories from mineral products?”

I told them that BHP Billiton does not need to extract our nickel for the accessories that I wear. There are enough extracted minerals in the Philippines to supply our need.

There is no need for BHP Billiton to start mining in Macambol.

Three years ago, BHP Billiton representatives tried to convince community members opposed to mining to allow the company to explore and operate in Macambol.

Their proposal was met with vehement refusal.

A local teacher said, “We cannot allow BHP Billiton to damage our forest and sea because this is our only source of life. Our water, our food and our air come from there.

“What will happen to the next generations if we do [allow this]. There is no such thing as responsible mining.”

I reiterate my organisation’s support for the communities opposed to extractive activities such as mining and logging, especially in protected areas such as the Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary.

Introduce extractive activities to Mount Hamiguitan and people in surrounding communities will lose their life source.

Left alone without any extraction, the Mount Hamiguitan Range may stay forever as a natural heritage site, a place of worship for indigenous peoples’ communities, a sustainable water source and a constant reminder of God’s creation.

Take action now to support the people of Macambol

Posted by LiliaP

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