The MIMAROPA Sunrise by The MIMAROPA Sunrise

Papal Inauguration 2013

Former Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal

Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle

Another thick and tyrannical plot unfolding? Public Forum on the Marinduque lawsuit against Barrick Gold by Eli J. Obligacion Marcopper Mining Waste. Damage to Calancan Bay, Mogpog River, Boac River and certain coastal areas. Graphics: Kapatiran, 1998.

In filing a lawsuit in Nevada USA against Placer Dome/Barrick Gold, Marinduquenos in 2005 sought legal justice for the extensive environmental and social damages wrought by nearly three decades of irresponsible mining on this island. Calancan Bay, Mogpog and Boac Rivers and surrounding coastal areas were polluted and human health problems were created. In 2005, SP Resolution 264 yet to be ratified was passed by the provincial board authorizing Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes to enter into a Special Outside Appointment and Engagement Contract with legal counsel Walter J. Scott, pertinent to the lawsuit against Placer Dome, Inc. “for the damage it caused to the people of Marinduque and the province‟s ecosystems, specifically, the Boac and Mogpog Rivers, Calancan Bay and the surrounding coastal areas.” Considered as the largest industrial disaster in the Philippines, the Marcopper Mining Disaster of 1996 resulted in the closure of Marcopper operations. In 2001 Placer Dome left the Philippines, leaving Marinduque‟s polluted ecosystems behind. Five years after the lawsuit was filed by the Provincial Government of Marinduque in a Nevada court in a long procedural battle that has reached the US Supreme Court, the US lawyers hired by the provincial government announced that a court hearing was finally scheduled in Nevada, one that could move the case toward a resolution. Nothing much has been heard by the people of Marinduque since then, even as a new provincial administration, sought critical information, such as details on the agreement earlier entered into with the lawyers involved by the pro- The U.S. lawyer Scott and Filipino vincial government, that remained lawyer Advincula at the forum. unanswered. Read. —more on page 3

The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ March 12-18, 2013

Ay...Marinduque Ni: NOEL V. MAGTURO Courtesy of Toby Jamilla

MORE POWER TO:

Greetings from:

Gasan, Marinduque Chairman, Marinduque Provincial Cooperative Development Council (MPCDC)

Continuation from page 2… Now comes the news that the US lawyer and his Filipino counterpart were in Marinduque recently for talks and a 'public forum' with some provincial government officials and stakeholders for „discussions on potential resolutions‟ on the lawsuit that includes a “universal settlement”. A universal settlement that involves the national government having to “eschew or forego any claims that were promised...”. On a radio program hosted by the Marinduque LP Congressional candidate all at once came this daring 'epal-ine' announcement: “Dito sa Marcopper mining, ang Ate Gina po ang talaga namang nakikipagbalitaktakan sa mga dayuhang abogado…napakalaki ang ginampanan at gagampanan ng ating Ate Gina Reyes…isyu po ito e, hindi po ito pamumulitika…” How's that again? What new plots are unfolding then? “… Kabilin-bilinan ni Skip, ating abogado, ay huwag munang magbibigay… So, ako ay sumusunod lang sa pinag-uutos sa akin ng mga abogado.”, one Allan Nepomuceno of the so-called liaison officer replies to defend himself. 'SP Liaison Committee' Then the US lawyer delivers a final statement: “…the President himself, none of those people will say I have kept them in the dark!” Shock waves, silence. As regards this Nevada case, there were concerns about Marinduquenos having been “kept blind for so many years” due to the dearth of information that should have been supplied by the liaison officers, according to board member Melecio Go. But, “It‟s your liason officers! They have not been in the dark!”, answers the US lawyer. ...more on page 8

Volume X

No. 20

ORMIN nagbuo ng komite upang t utukan ang paggamit ng GMO Ni Luis T. Cueto

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro, (PIA) – Upang higit na mapangalagaan ang sakahan at kalusugan ng mamamayan, binuo dito kamakailan ang multi-sectoral Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) monitoring committee. Ayon kay Gob. Alfonso V. Umali, Jr., tungkulin ng pamahalaan na protektahan at itaguyod ang karapatan ng mamamayan para sa isang balanse at malusog na ekolohiya. Aniya, ang pagsusulong ng mga programang pangkaunlaran na hindi makasisira sa mayamang kalikasan ng lalawigan ay isa sa mga prayoridad ng pamahalaang panlalawigan. Sa layuning ito, ipinalabas ni Umali ang isang kautusan na pormal na nagtatalaga sa mga bubuo sa MultiSectoral GMO Monitoring Committee na ang mga magiging pangunahing tungkulin ay ang magbalangkas ng mga plano, programa at alituntunin at magsagawa ng pag-aaral sa GMO batay sa mga probisyong nakapaloob sa Environment Code ng lalawigan. Sa Article VI ng environment code ay nakasaad na ipinagbabawal ang pagpapasok, pagbibili, pagtatanim at pagsasagawa ng laboratory o field testing para sa pagpaparami ng GMO sa teritoryong nasasakop ng Oriental Mindoro maliban kung nasunod ang mga kondisyong nakapaloob sa umiiral na environment code. Upang higit na maitaguyod ang layuning ito, pormal na itinalaga ng Gobernador ang komposiyon ng GMO monitoring committee na siya ang nagsisilbing chairman. Vice-chairman niya si Bise-Gob. Humerlito A. Dolor. Miyembro mula sa pamahalaang panlalawiban sina Provincial Agriculturist Petronilo L. Dimailig, Assistant Provincial Agriculurist Ely H. Vargas, ENRO Chief Maximino A. Jumig, Jr., Provincial Veterinarian Grimaldo C. Catapang at Bokal Roberto C. Concepcion na siyang chairperson ng SP Committee on Agriculture, Agrarian Reforms and Beneficiaries‟ Support Services. Mula naman sa civil society, uupong miyembro sina Danny S. Villacrusis ng Association of Municipal Agriculturists of Oriental Mindoro, Conrado L. Balmes ng Federation of Oriental Mindoro Farmers Association, at Ma. Linda T. Umali ng Farmers Organization for the Rural Upliftment of Mindoro. Miyembro rin monitoring committee ang mga kinatawan mula sa agri-business sector na sina Rosendo C. Carticiano ng NGO-Steward of the Soil, Melquiades Macalintal ng Fruit Growers Association, Evelyn Cacha ng Alyansa Laban sa Mina at Gleceria Concepcion ng Agribusiness Trading. Ang mga bumubuo ng nasabing multi-sectoral committee ang siyang tutukoy sa mga isyung may kinalaman sa GMO at magbibigay ng rekomendasyon hinggil dito. Tungkulin din ng komite na mag-imbestiga at magparusa sa mga lalabag sa umiiral na batas sa GMO sa ilalim ng environment code ng lalawigan. (CPRD/LTC/TBO-

Syngenta company gives school supplies in OrMin By Luis T. Cueto

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro, (PIA) – More than 300 schoolchildren of San Jose Elementary School in barangay San Jose, Roxas were given school supplies by Syngenta Philippines, recently. Syngenta is the world‟s leading agribusiness and biotech multinational company based in Basel, Switzerland. In the acceptance ceremony which was organized by the school teachers led by Teacher in Charge Elsie Pupa, the ceremony showcased the talents of their schoolchildren. They danced, recited poems and rendered songs of gratitude to the company. This year‟s activity of Syngenta dubbed as „Palay Eskwela‟ is in line with the company‟s way of extending its services to identified poor schoolchildren of farmers in the area. San Jose acting Barangay Chairman Rodil Dizon in his overwhelming speech manifested his gratefulness by endorsing the company‟s commercial products the Palay Trio: Cruiser, Virtako and Armure to around 200 farmer parents who witnessed the ceremony. According to Aris Opena, South Luzon Area Sales Manager of the company, Barangay San Jose was adopted in the company‟s commercial activity dubbed as Barangay Syngenta. Opena said Barangay Syngenta showcased the latest rice technology of the company that would benefit the Mindoro farmers by helping them to produce10- 20% more than their usual practice. Moreover, Antonette Villanueva, the company‟s Sales Executive said the company is committed by refurbishing the Barangay Hall and its premises, and highlighted the distribution of school supplies to the sons and daughters of San Jose farmers as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)‟s practice to Filipino farming communities. “CSR is an integral part of the Barangay Syngenta” according to Richell R. Recoter, CSR Senior Coordinator of Syngenta who also graced and organized the giving of school supplies. (RRR/LT/TBO-PIA4BCalapan)

The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ March 12-18, 2013

Kauna-unahang Palawan Forum on Sand and Gravel Quarry Operations isasagawa Ni O. C. Jabagat Rabies Awareness Month, inilunsad LUNGSOD NG PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan, (PIA) -- Isasagawa sa Marso 15 ang kauna-unahang Palawan Forum on Sand and Gravel Quarry Operations na gaganapin sa A&A Plaza Hotel, dito sa lungsod mula alas otso ng umaga hanggang alas sais ng gabi. Pangungunahan ito ng Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) at may temang “Advancing Knowledgeable, Responsible and Ecologically-Balanced Management of Quarry Operations in Palawan.” Ayon kay Raymundo G. Padrones Jr., board secretary ng PMRB, layunin ng naturang forum na ipaalam sa mga partisipante ang mga batas, polisiya at alituntunin hinggil sa responsableng pamamahala sa sand and gravel quarry operations sa lalawigan. Gayundin upang matukoy ang mga isyu at usapin na kinakaharap ng nasabing industriya at magkaroon ng karagdagang mga estratehiya para sa epektibong regulasyon ng quarry operations sa Palawan. Ani Padrones, 100 katao ang inaasahang lalahok sa forum na kinabibilangan ng mga quarry permittee, mga kontraktor, representante mula sa mga local government unit, nongovernment organization at iba pang konsenadong ahensya ng gobyerno at mga stakeholder. Ilan sa mga tatalakayin ng forum ay ang ang Provincial Legislative Agenda on Sand & Gravel Quarry Operations na pangungunahan ni Bise Gob. Clara „Fems‟ Reyes; National Policies & Regulations and Mining Laws na tatalakayin ni Dir. Roland A. de Jesus. MGB Regional Director at ang Environmental Laws na pangungunahan naman ni Jacqueline A. Caanan, admin & finance division ng EMB Reg. 4B. Samantala, si Atty. Elena V. Rodriguez, Prov‟l administrator at co-chairman ng PMRB ang tatalakay hinggil sa PMRB Policies & Regulations on Sand & Gravel Quarry Operations at si Engr. Andronico J. Baguyo, PMRB technical secretariat naman ang maglalahad ng Provincial Situationer on Sand & Gravel Quarry Operations. Magkakaroon naman ng open forum upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga dadalo na makapagtanong at ang pinakamahalaga aniyang bahagi ng aktibidad ay ang “Covenant Signing” kung saan inaasahang lalagda ang lahat ng partisipante upang makipagtulungan sa maayos at responsableng pagsulong ng mga polisiya hinggil sa sand & gravel quarry operations sa lalawigan. Sa kasalukuyan, ang PMRB sa Palawan ay pinamumunuan ni PENRO Juan B. dela Cruz na siyang tumatayong Chairman at ni PMRB Vice Chairman Atty. Elena V. Rodriguez, Prov‟l administrator, na siya namang kumakatawan kay Gob. Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra. (PIO/OCJ/TBO-PIA4B Palawan)

Volume X

No. 20

sa bayan ng Roxas, Palawan Ni Orlan C. Jabagat LUNGSOD NG PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan, (PIA) -“Responsible pet ownership for a rabies free Palawan” ang tema ng isinagawang paglulunsad ng Rabies Awareness Month sa bayan ng Roxas kamakailan. Pinangunahan ng Provincial Veterinarian Office (PVO) ang aktibidad sa pamamagitan ng isang simpleng parada sa mga pangunahing lansangan ng nasabing bayan at sinundan ito ng maikling programa. Ayon kay Dra. Carla Limsan, livestock inspector II ng PVO ilan sa mga isinagawa dito ay ang pagbibigay ng libreng bakuna sa mga aso at isang rabies forum na dinaluhan ng mga estudyante mula sa elementarya at sekondarya na ginanap sa municipal gym. Nagkaroon din ng scientific and consultative meeting ang mga Municipal Agriculture Officer at Municipal Veterinarians. Tinalakay sa pagpupulong ang tungkol sa rabies ng canine o mga aso, sitwasyon ng canine rabies sa probinsiya at ganun din ang rabies ng tao. Sina Dr. Angel Mateo, chepe ng Animal Feeds Division ng Bureau of Animal Industry na tumalakay sa Veterinary Regulation of veterinary drugs at si Dr. Fernando Lontoc, director ng National Meat Inspection Service ng Region 4-B, na tumalakay naman sa pag-iinspeksyon ng mga karne, ang mga naging panauhin sa naturang aktibidad.. Nagkakaroon din ng kampanya sa rabies awareness para sa mga empleyado ng kapitolyo na ibinigay ni Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Juanito Pio Lledo noong Marso 11. Magbibigay din sila ng libreng pagbabakuna ng aso na gaganapin sa entrance ng kapitolyo sa Marso 15. Samantala, nakapagsagawa na rin ng Barangay Veterinary Aide Training sa Busuanga, Coron, Araceli at Sofronio Española nitong nakaraang buwan ng Enero at Pebrero. Dito ay nakapagsanay na ang umaabot sa 100 Veterinary Aide PVO. (LBR/PIO/OCJ-PIA4B Palawan)

Palawan wildlife photo exhibit up By Victoria Asuncion S. Mendoza PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, (PIA) -- Birdwatch Palawan Ornithological Society (BPOS) will be hosting “Colors Of Palawan” Photo Exhibit featuring stunning photographs of wildlife that depicts the beauty and natural hues of the last ecological frontier. The exhibit also aims to raise wildlife awareness and conservation. The event is scheduled on March 16-30 and is done in partnership with Eco-Education and Resources Center-HK, Eco-Discovery Travel and Tours and Robinsons Place – Palawan at Robinsons Place – Palawan this city. The opening of the exhibit on March 17 will also launch the Eco-Discovery Travel and Tours as a new emerging nature travel operator in Palawan which engages in purely ecological tourism activities like birdwatching, bird photography, diving, underwater photography, mountaineering, trekking, cultural and ethnographical immersions and events. Birdwatch Palawan Ornithological Society is a group of birdwatchers composed of government employees, non-government workers, conservation professionals, eco-tourism frontliners and other bird lovers in Palawan. (VSM/PIA-Palawan)

DOTC approves P104.3M development of northern Palawan airports Karapatan ng kababaihan at karahasan sa tahanan, tinalakay ng PSWDO- Marinduque Ni Mayda Lagran BOAC, Marinduque, (PIA) -- Tinalakay kamakailan ng Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) ang ang mga karapatan ng mga babae at ang mga nilalaman ng batas sa Violence Against Women o Republic Act 9262. Ang nasabing pagpupulong ay isinagawa bilang pakikiisa ng lalawigan sa pagdiriwang ng National Women‟s Month sa taong ito na may temang “Kababaihan, Gabay sa Pagtahak sa Tuwid na Daan.” Naganap ito sa Marinduque Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center, Capitol Compound, Boac kamaikailan. Ito ay inisyatiba ng PSWDO at ng provincial government. Dumalo dito sina Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) Julpha Arevalo, Marian Cunanan ng Provincial Planning and Development Office at ang mga kasapi ng kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina, gayundin ang ilang kababaihan mula sa mga vulnerable sectors. Naging panauhing pandangal ang human rights advocate na si Dr. Corazon David, na siya ring naging tagapagpaliwanag o tagapagsalita ukol sa RA 9262. Ipinaliwanag ni David ang mga uri ng karahasan at ito ay ang verbal abuse o ang pagsasalita ng masama sa kapwa o pagmumura; physical abuse o pananakit sa babae kagaya ng pambubugbog; emotional o psychological abuse na nararansasan kapag hindi makatulog o „di mapakali ang babae dahil sa takot at pag-iisip ng mga pangyayari na ginagawa sa kanya ng lalaki; sexual abuse kung walang kakayanan ang babae o may sakit ngunit pinipilit ng lalaking makipagtalik; economic abuse na nangyayari kapag hindi nagbibigay ng supportang pinansiyal ang lalaki o di nag-eentrega ng sahod o pera; at ang pagbabasag ng lalaki sa mga gamit sa bahay o pagsunog sa mga damit ng babae. Ayon pa kay David, kung maninindigan ang mga kababaihan upang ipaglaban ang kanilang karapatan, maaring ituwid ang mga maling gawain ng mga kalalakihan sa kababaihan at lubos na magkaroon ng respeto sa bawat isa upang tunguhin ang tuwid na daan para sa pagbabago. (LBR/MNL-PIA4B Marinduque)

By Victoria Asuncion S. Mendoza PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, (PIA) -- The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) approved the improvement and expansion of two airports with an aggregate budget of about P103.4 million, to facilitate access in major tourism areas in northern Palawan. It recently opened for bidding the Northern Palawan Airport Development Project to improve airport traffic handling capacity of the Cesar L. Rodriguez Airport or Taytay Airport located approximately 230 kms north of Puerto Princesa City. This is the gateway to worldclass island resorts in the towns of Taytay and El Nido. The project entails the concreting of 1,100 meters length and 18 meters wide of the runway with approved budget at P48.2 million. At present, only a 19-seater aircraft uses the airport which accommodates guests from a nearby world-class island resort. Once the concreting of the runway is completed in 240 calendar days, bigger aircraft can land bringing in more passengers and tourists. Another airport the DOTC has lined up for development is the San Vicente Airport which is approximately 185 kms. northwest of the capital city of Puerto Princesa. On March 4, the DOTC issued a notice to proceed to a local contractor for the implementation of the San Vicente Airport Development Project with an approved budget of P56.1 million. The bidding for the project was awarded to BCT Trading and Construction in December 2012. The project for the San Vicente airport consists of the construction of vehicular parking area, security fence, perimeter fence and drainage system, runway extension, and hill obstruction removal. Implementation is calendared for 360 calendar days. The two airport projects are expected to sustain tourism growth and support related business activities in northern part of mainland Palawan. The projects also ensure convenient, affordable, reliable, efficient and safe transport which is a commitment of the department under the Philippine Development Plan. (VSM/TBO-PIA, Palawan)

MORE POWER TO:

Greetings from:

Mogpog, Marinduque

The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ March 12-18, 2013

Environmental code ng Romblon, aprubado na ng Sanggunian Panlalawigan Ni Dinnes Manzo 112th Foundation at 68th Liberation Anniversary ipagdiriwang ng Romblon Ni Dinnes Manzo

ROMBLON, Romblon, (PIA) -- Nakatakdang ipagdiwang ng probinsiya ng Romblon sa Marso 18 ang kanyang ika-112 na pagkakatatag at ika-68 na pagkakalaya nito noong panahon ng ikalawang digmaang pandaigdig. Sa bisa ng inilabas na Memorandum Order No. M03-017, s. 2013 ng tanggapan ni Governor Eduardo C. Firmalo na may petsang March 11, 2013, idineklarang provincial holiday ang ika-16 at ika-18 ng Marso kaya walang pasok sa lahat ng opisina at antas ng mga eskwelahan sa buong lalawigan sa araw ng Lunes. Alinsunod ito sa RA 9642 na may titulong “An Act Declaring March 16 of every year as Foundation Day and Special Non-working Holiday in the Province of Romblon”. Ang Proclamation No. 430 at Administrative Order 102 ay nagdedeklara naman ng Marso 18 ng bawat taon bilang isang special holiday sa mga isla ng Panay at Romblon. Subalit may pasok ang lahat ng capitol-based employees sa darating na Marso 18 dahil kailangang nilang dumalo sa isasagawang selebrasyon, lumahok sa parada at iba pang aktibidad na may kaugnayan sa naturang pagdiriwang, pahayag ni Provincial Administrator Romeo F. Faeldan. Tampok sa araw na iyon ang isasagawang misa ng pasasalamat sa Capitol Ground na pamumunuan ni Msgr. Nestor M. Gadon. Susundan ito ng pagtataas ng bandila ng probinsiya sa pangunguna ni Congressman Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona at Gov. Eduardo C. Firmalo at 17 bandila ng mga munisipyo sa pangunguna ng bawat alkalde nito. Kasunod ring isasagawa ang wreath-laying ceremony at liberation marker na pangungunahan nina Madrona, Firmalo, at mga opisyal ng pamahalaang panlalawigan, 17 alkalde ng munisipyo, at mga beterano ng World War II. Magkakaroon din ng isang civic military parade ang isasagawa sa araw ding iyon at isusunod ang isang programa sa Romblon Public Plaza. Bahagi rin ng selebrasyon ang paggawad ng pagkilala sa katapangang ipinamalas ng mga tagaRomblon na beterano ng World War II, na nagtanggol ng ating bansa laban sa mga Hapon. Pagkakalooban rin ng parangal ang mga magigiting na pulis sa lalawigan na nagpakita ng kanilang sipag at katapatan sa pagtupad sa kanilang tungkulin. Kabilang rin sa mga dadalo sina Philippine National Police provincial director PSSupt. Danilo M. Abadiano at agent Ricky M. Tumanon ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office IV-B upang umasiste sa pagbibigay ng parangal sa ilang kawani ng pulisya na karapat-dapat parangalan.(LBR/DM/ PIA-IVB/Romblon)

ROMBLON, Romblon, (PIA) -- Pasado na sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang matagal nang nakabinbin na Environmental Code (EC) ng probinsya sa kanilang ika-anim na regular sesyon ngayong taon na ginanap sa SP Session Hall, Romblon Capitol Building kamakailan. Matapos ang mahabang palitan ng mga opinyon at deliberasyon sa plenary ng SP sa kapitolyo ng mga proponent at kasapi ng Sangguniang panlalawigan, sa wakas ay naipasa na rin ang pangkalikasang kodigo ng Romblon sa ikatlong pagdinig nito at sa bisa ng pag-apruba ng mayorya ng mga board members upang maging ganap na itong batas. Ang tuluyang pagkapasa ng nasabing ordinansa ay bunsod sa pag-amyenda at pagkaroon ng karagdagang probisyon dito. Isa sa mahahalagang probisyon nito at ang pagtanggal ng “Open-Pit Mining” na makikita sa Section 64 ng kodigo. Kasama na rin dito ang pagbabawal ng minahan sa ibabaw ng mga lugar ng watershed, gaano man ito kalayo sa huli. Gayundin ang pagbabawal sa minahan sa mga lugar na pangturismo o sakahan na natukoy ng munisipyo, batay sa alituntunin ng Presidential Executive Order No. 79 series of 2012. Matapos ang mahigit sa tatlong oras na pagtalakay ay bomoto pabor sa ordinansa ang mayorya na mga miyembro ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan na dumalo sa naturang sesyon. Kabilang sa mga naroon sa 6th regular session ay ang presiding officer na si Vice Governor Manuel “Mel” M. Madrid, Hon. Samuel Romero (1st District), Hon. Atty. Abner Perez (1st District); Hon. Gil Moreno (1st District), Hon. Nelson Lim (1st District), Hon.Patricia Perez (Provincial Councilors League President), Hon. Fred Dorado (2nd District /Majority Floor Leader), Hon. Dr. Venizar “Boy” Maravilla (2nd District), at Hon. Atty. Jim Fondevilla (2nd District). Sinabi ni SP Felix “Dongdong” Ylagan, principal na otor ng nasabing ordinansa, ang pagbuo ng naturang Environmental Code ay naglalayong maprotektahan ang kapakanan at kaligtasan ng mamamayan at upang maiwasan ang pagkasira ng ating kalikasan na dapat na isa umano sa pangunahing tungkulin ng mga nakaupong lider ng lalawigan. “Sisikapin naming maisumite agad ang bagong aprubang EC sa punong lalawigan upang magawan ng Implementing Rules ng maaatasang Technical Working Group,” panghuling pahayag ni Ylagan. (LBR/RS/DM-PIA 4B)

More power to…

Greetings from:

VANNI MADRIGAL BUPoblacion, Boac, Marindu-

Volume X

No. 20

Continuation from page 3… What‟s the real score, what‟s the truth? Inevitable questions come up like 'is the Marinduque governor still in command, what critical facts that the people should know are not being disclosed, why the seemingly brazen act of name-dropping that includes even the name of the President, is this a repetition of an old game where people involved in some conspiracy are hoodwinked by images of a 'magnitude of money', (to use the words of the US lawyer), while the rest of Marinduque falls in deep slumber amid hushed cries from others of a probable BM Mel Go, Vice-Gov. Antonio Uy, Jr., BM Bong Raza and BM Allan Nepomuceno 'sellout', what 'gag order'? Curiously timed during this election period (again), you wonder. And please reckon... Excerpts from the „Public Forum‟ held on January 21, 2012, at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque with Vice-Governor Antonio Uy, Jr., some members of the provincial board, Atty. Walter J. Scott, (US lawyer engaged by the provincial government) , Atty. Jack Advincula, (Filipino legal counterpart), some officers and members of Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC), plus a few local media practitioners. None of Marinduque's municipal officials to represent their constituents were invited: "MAGALANG: Hindi po kami nandito para makinig ng updates. Kasi alam na po namin yung updates. Ina-update po kami lagi ni Atty. Skip at Atty. Jack. Pumunta po kami para suportahan yung kaso at para sabihin sa inyo (board members), paulit-ulit, na puwede bang magkaisa na kayo.. MEL GO: …Kami pa pala ang nakakagulo. Take note, for 10 years, nandito ka, walang lumabas. Ngayon lang na-open ito ah, you’re saying na ‘sige, study tayo, study’… tapos kami ang magulo? My God! JT ALINO: … at kami, kaya gusto naming mapag-usapan dito, transparent kami, gusto naming malaman ng taong-bayan na walang tinatago.. Hindi lang naman kayo ang apektado dito ah.. Pinagtutulungan natin itong lahat, sasabihin ninyong nagpapagulo kami, hinihingi lang namin ang katotohanan.

MACEC executive director Myke Magalang and MACEC members

RAZA: … let us explore all avenue that will strengthen… any comment coming from the group, let us put that on hold… (introduces Atty. Scott ). SCOTT: … The purpose of this meeting is to update you on the events that took place on November 26 to November 29 in San Francisco… Before doing that though, given the nature of the dialogue at the outset here, I want to make it clear that… there may be disagreement as to the methodology, there may be disagreement as to disclosure…. The part of the difficulty, while I’m here, especially now, in any effort or endeavor like this is that we all operate with certain restrictions on us that we do not necessarily want, but have to live with… But what we were successful in doing in the end of November is coming to a conclusion to agree, as the professionals believe, was a workable mutually agreeable framework for all the different constituents to sign off on…. …We operate under a certain ‘gag order’, a ‘gag order’ that tells us that we can’t disclose things. I know that there are some members of the press here with national means, and that ‘gag order’ becomes all that much tighter. And these are not necessarily selfAtty. Skip Scott imposed, they come from courts. A judge says thou shall not speak and, backed up by agreements that you have to enter into and agree, and promise that you shall not speak… ATTY. ADVINCULA: …ang napag-agreehan kailangang sabihin ito, hindi sa pagbubuhat ng bangko, mahirap po yung ginawa namin na framework. Yung framework na ginawa ay isang universal settlement, isang dokumento na ang gusto ng kabila ay inaaddress lahat ng mga constituency, lahat ng stakeholders. RAZA: ...We would like to inform the public na noong 2007 to 2010, halos hindi po tumakbo yung usapin sapagkat hindi po kami, hindi po sila, nakakuha ng suporta sa nakaraang administrasyon…. But our lawyers in the States are painstakingly working out… for the province of Marinduque despite the absence of support from the previous administration. LYN ANGELES: ...When you said that the mediation process is almost nearing , in the next five months, do you expect the mediation process to be reaching an end?

Old Marcopper Minesite

The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ March 12-18, 2013

SCOTT:… I think that this mediation process is pretty mature…my comment is that the political environment here may force a high risk for extended discussions potentially…I don’t know… But between now and then, I think that we will make more progress on the numbers affair… MEL GO: … The Dams... I wonder if the Governor or if MACEC has related to Mr. Skip hanggang ngayon ay.. kasi dapat noon pa yan ay inaasikaso na natin considering yung mga ulan ngayon malalakas, yung bagyong tumatama… I think that’s the foremost na dapat nating ugatan at ipauna natin sa kanila… while they are discussing the settlement or mediation ay ilabas na natin. This is dangerous, Skip… those dams are 10 years old...this is very valuable information that was not voted during your negotiations… SCOTT: … You survived a year and a half and 10 years.. MEL GO: The (USGS) study was for medium-term and longer mediation… there’s nothing (about it)! SCOTT: … At the same it also has to be mentioned in terms unfortunately in the sense that, If you claim something is imminent and it does not happen for 10 years, some of you would openly say, how imminent is that… so I don’t want to rely on the USGS report over this… NEPOMUCENO: …Baka matanim sa isip ng mga tao na kami ay nagkukulang bilang liaison officers. Kami po ni Bokal Raza ay assigned talaga na magbibigay ng information sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Sa totoo lang po, may tali ang ating mga kamay dahil ang kabilin-bilinan ni Skip, ating abogado, ay huwag munang magbibigay kung maaari… kasi ang magbibigay talaga ng information sa SP ay ang liaison, hindi ang Governor. Ang information nagdadaan sa liaison …. So, ako ay sumusunod lang sa pinag-uutos sa akin ng mga abogado… PETER MAGTURO: Can you give us an idea of the time frame? Election season now, how will the political climate affect (this issue)…. SCOTT: … As for the political timetable, I personally believe there is no person, no political party, whether you are in or out, it doesn’t matter as far as these issues are concerned…. Like it or not, the national government is a stakeholder… MEL GO: Are you saying Skip that even the national government will set in? SCOTT: I think that the national government has to be the signatory to endorse… thus far they are willing to eschew or forego any claims that then were promised with this resolution… But just a point to answer your question. If you Liaison Officers Raza and Nepomuceno will put the deal on the table, there is never enough, never enough… …No, we’ve been in discussion with the national government all along. The national government is well aware and has participated in these (showing documents). MEL GO: Exactly, that’s why we are in a situation that we have been kept blind for so many years… with the national government (involvement)… SCOTT: It’s like this. You have the process and procedure in October. We have them here. It’s your liaison officers. They have not been in the dark. They are not blind. So for you to say that you’re blind is for you to ignore the very processes and protocols that you yourself have put to waste. ...Stop making claims. It is frustrating for somebody to sit and tell me that I am not keeping you informed … I may not be talking to you individually … My obligation is to speak to the Governor as the primary point with the concurrence of the liaison… Don’t make a statement that you are not being informed. I take that very seriously. MEL GO: Yes, it’s true. I have nothing! (documents) SCOTT: … Secretary Acosta, or Secretary Paje or the President himself, none of those people will say I have kept them in the dark. This is a full-time, all-consuming engagement…" Wikipedia on Barrick Gold: "Relations to local populations "In April and May 2008, indigenous leaders from four countries opposing large-scale gold mining on their lands described the adverse impacts of Barrick Gold Corporation. These leaders spoke of Barrick Gold's tactics in "suppressing dissident voices, dividing communities, and manipulating local and national politics". "They also related stories about "lack of free, prior and informed consent for local people". Barrick is party to a lawsuit originally filed against Placer Dome Inc. by the local government claiming compensation for the 1996 Marcopper Mining Disaster. Barrick Gold inherited the litigation after taking over Placer Dome, Inc".

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The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ March 12-18, 2013

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The MIMAROPA SUNRISE/ March 12-18, 2013