Ivanhoe drops mining exploration plans for Romblon

MANILA, Philippines—The Canadian-backed mining company Ivanhoe Philippines has withdrawn its plans to explore copper-gold prospects in the province of Romblon.

In a letter dated September 30, 2011, to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Ivanhoe Philippines president Leo S. Deiparine stated that there has been a consensus among the company’s board members to withdraw its applications “based on Tablas as a low priority exploration target for Ivanhoe Philippines and the strong opposition of the local politicians for the approval of our applications.” Ivanhoe Philippines is a subsidiary of Canada-based Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.

MGB director Engr. Leo L. Jasareno confirmed during a phone interview that Ivanhoe Philippines has withdrawn its application to explore prospects in Tablas. According to Jasareno, there are other companies interested in the area, but there is an ongoing moratorium on new projects.

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), an alliance of mining-affected communities and their support groups, which oppose “the aggressive promotion of large-scale mining in the Philippines,” welcomed Ivanhoe’s withdrawal in a statement.

ATM national coordinator Jaybee Garganera said, “The genuine commitment and struggle of the people led to the shortest advocacy campaign being supported by ATM, and one that went against a large Canadian company. If the province of Romblon can do it, the local government units and communities in other parts of the country resisting this destructive industry can now stand up more proudly to assert their power to decide.”

“It is indeed the unity and strong opposition of the people of Romblon against mining that led to the withdrawal of the application for exploration permit of Ivanhoe Philippines. This is a giant step towards a mining-free Romblon,” Representative Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona of the lone district of Romblon said.

Madrona recently filed House Bill 4815 titled “An Act Declaring the Province of Romblon a Mining Free Zone and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof.”

Romblon Governor Eduardo Firmalo, in the same statement, said, “The power of the people and the political will of the leaders with the help of the civil society and religious sector clearly manifest the strong position of the province. We will continue to defend the right of our people to a balanced and healthy ecology.”

Firmalo earlier issued Executive Order No. 1 imposing an indefinite ban on metallic mining in the province.

Romblon Ecumenical Forum against Mining (Refam), through its covenors, Roman Catholic priest Msgr. Nonato Ernie V. Fetalino and Philippine Independent Church Bishop Ronelio Fabriquer, however, stressed that “this victory of the people is just the beginning, the challenge to protect our islands is a lifelong commitment.”

The ecumenical group further called for the scrapping of the Mining Act of 1995 and the passage of a new mining law to rationalize the minerals industry, protect and promote human rights and establish so-called No-Go Zones, based on alternative minerals management bills lodged in Congress.