Bishops from Mindanao, led by Bishop Cerilo Alan Uy Casicas from the Diocese of Marbel and Reverend Father Jerome M. Millan, Director of the Social Action Center in the Diocese of Marbel, submitted petitions to President Marcos last October 11, calling for the cancellation of the extension agreement for the development of the Tampakan copper-gold site by Sagittarius Mines Incorporated (SMI).
The bishops representing Cotabato, Digos, Kidapawan, and Marbel argued that the 12-year extension of the Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) was unconstitutional and should be revoked.
The Tampakan copper-gold mine is projected to be the largest mining project in the Philippines to date, encroaching on over 10,000 hectares from SOCCKSARGEN to Davao del Sur, with plans to operate for 17 years.
Bishop Casicas stressed, “The environmental impacts of the mining project would be catastrophic, as a single mining spill could potentially compromise the Mindanao river basin, affecting millions.”
PMPI Campaign Officer Attorney Josiah David Quising joined Bishop Casicas and Reverend Father Millan in filing the petition.
To this day, PMPI continues to support and uphold the rights of communities to a clean and healthy environment, as well as the rights of nature to be preserved and protected against exploitative activities such as mining.
