The Diocese of San Carlos, civil society, environment and fisherfolk groups on Thursday, January 18, lauded the Sagay City Sangguniang Panlungsod for rejecting the proposed mining project of Tambuli Mining Corporation in Brgy. Lopez Jaena, Sagay.
“Ever since the very beginning of this mining proposal, we have already expressed our deep concern on the social and environmental impacts of this yet another mining project situated in nearby communities and water sources,” Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos said.
The Diocese of San Carlos, with its Social Action Center, Ecology Desk, and the St Joseph Parish in Sagay, released a statement on January 7 expressing concern over the corporation’s “failure to address vital issues raised, particularly the potential impacts on soil, air, water, and the overall community well-being.“
The proposed copper mining project would cover 60 hectares in 12 Sagay barangays and a portion of Escalante, 14 kilometers away from the Sagay Marine Reserve (SMR).
Environment network Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) also welcomed the decision of the SP.
“We commend the SP for making this principled stance. Sagay is a model of conservation and sustainability, and we are grateful that such an environmentally-destructive project was not allowed in the City,” Joshua Villalobos of NICE said.
The Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement – Negros, Partido Manggagawa-Negros, Negros Workers Development Center, Freedom from Debt Coalition-Negros, Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment, Kaisahan tungo sa Kaunlara ng Kanayunan at Repormang Pansakahan, Pederasyon para sa Kauswagan sang Kababaenhan, Mangunguma kag Mangingisda sa Nahabagatnang Probinsya sang Negros Occidental Inc., NYLI-Climate Solution Center, Lunhaw Ecology Desk, Youth Empowering Youth Initiative, Philippine Youth Network for Interfaith Dialogue, DAKILA Bacolod, and Sipaway Seagrass Guardians also lauded the Sagay SP for rejecting the mining project.*