Alyansa Tigil Mina, a coalition advocating against destructive mining, commends the recent resolution of the Supreme Court issuing a writ of kalikasan against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and Altai Philippines Mining Corp.
In a statement, the group said that the decision marks a significant step towards safeguarding the rights of the residents of Sibuyan Island to a safe environment and a healthful ecology.
The writ of kalikasan is a protective measure that holds accountable the DENR, MGB and Altai Philippines for damages to the environment from mining operations.
“We laud the residents of Sibuyan for their proactive and unwavering struggle against destructive mining in their island. Their petition to the Supreme Court that has now yielded positive gains reinforces their firm resistance on the ground,” according to ATM's statement.
” We hope that in the coming days, their fight to protect the “Galapagos of Asia” would eventually result in the cancellation of Ipilan Nickel’s Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA)” they added.
The coalition reaffirms its unwavering support to the anti-mining movement of the Sibuyan people.
They pledges to continue raising awareness about the negative impacts of mining through engagement with concerned government agencies and the general public.
