Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Various Indigenous People groups sought the help of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez for the protection of their ancestral lands.
They once again called on the environment chief to stop large scale mining operations in their communities.
Some tribal leaders complained that mining firms continue to operate even after they had been suspended by the DENR.
“Kung ubos na ang kalikasan sino ang apektado? Tayong lahat,pero lalo na kami. Mawalan na kami ng tirahan, mawalan na pagkain, mawala rin ang aming karapatan tumira sa aming lugar,” a member of Compostela Valley’s B’laan tribe said during the dialogue held at the University of the Philippines Diliman on Monday, October 24, 2016.
[If nature is destroyed, who is affected? Everyone, but we even more. We’ll lose our homes, our food, our right to live in our own land.]
Other tribal leaders echoed her concerns. They also come from mining-affected communities in Mindoro, Agusan, Ilocos, South Cotabato, and Cordillera among others.
The groups also assailed the continued militarization of their communities.
Lopez said her office is doing everything it can to reduce mining operations in the country.
She also assured the IPs, they will not be forced out of their lands.
“Bakit kayo paalisin sa lupa niyo? Lupa niyo yan, ok? What we will do is we’ll keep you there and dapat doon kayo magtrabaho para umangat ang buhay ng komunidad at ang pamilya,” Lopez said.
[Why should you be driven from your land? That land is yours, ok? What we will do is we’ll keep you there and you should all work there so you can raise the quality of life of the community and your families.]
At one point, she called Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Ricardo Visaya – and put him on loud speaker – so he could join the dialogue.
Visaya, for his part, told the IPs his men are only deployed in their communities to counter threats posed by communist rebels.
