“Nicua’s consistent inconsistencies perpetuate”

Stop the magnetite mining operation in Mac Arthur Leyte - EVEF

By Eastern Visayas Ecumenical Forum (EVEF)
June 16, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  “Save Lake Bito, Now Na” was intentionally posted by the Nicua Mining Corporation (NMC) in their streamers just across the barricade of the concerned constituents of Mac Arthur, Leyte who are affected by the magnetite mining operation in their locality.

“It was, indeed, an inconsistent and irresponsible act of NMC and the local officials of Mac Arthur, Leyte who joyously and festively culminate their Tree Planting activity last June 11, 2012 by posting all those streamers with ironical statements. While they superficially express their concern to save Lake Bito through their streamers, we have seen how they undermine the people’s legitimate demand to stop the mining operation as it grievously affect the source of livelihood of the people”, Rev. Irma Mepico-Balaba, of the Advocacy and Education Committee of EVEF said as she had personally witnessed it last Monday.

She added, “we are calling the Local Government Unit of the Municipality of Mac Arthur, Leyte as represented by the Municipal Mayor to take a responsible action in addressing these problems faced by his constituents by revoking the NMC’s permit to operate within the whole municipality and to assist the people who are economically displaced and dislocated due to the mining operation.”

EVEF condemn those officials and leaders of those concerned government agencies and others like them, who connive with big mining businesses, foreign and local, to cheat the people of what is justly for them.

To recall, it is not only the fisherfolks who depended their livelihood on fishing at Lake Bito who are affected by the magnetite mining operation but also the farmers who were displaced as the NMC started to convert the agricultural land into a desert since it started its operation.

With this, according to Balaba, “EVEF resolutely take our position for the NICUA Mining Corporation to cease its operation. Correspondingly, we are challenging the DENR and MGB to be intentional and transparent in looking into the violations of NMC on the environmental compliance and to effect cancellation of their Environmental Compliance Certificate for them to stop the operation.”