Alyansa Tigil Mina has expressed disappointment with the recent court decision regarding the mining case on Sibuyan Island.
While acknowledging the limitations of the guidelines under the Writ of Kalikasan and the prayer for the issuance of a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO), the group highlighted the need for judicial reform.
“We recognize the limitations of the guidelines of the Writ of Kalikasan and the prayer for the issuance of a TEPO,” Alyansa Tigil Mina stated. “However, it is high time that the Supreme Court review and revise the rule that the destructive impacts require to be felt by two or more cities or provinces. This is not applicable nor feasible to fragile island ecosystems, which are prevalent in the Philippine geological context.”
The group called on the local governments of Romblon and the three towns in Sibuyan Island to enact local ordinances aimed at protecting their forests, water, and marine resources. They emphasized the importance of preventing further destruction that could be caused by mining activities in the region.
Alyansa Tigil Mina also demanded that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) immediately cancel the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) of Altai Mining Corp. They urged the DENR to work closely with the affected local communities to prevent further environmental degradation of the coastal areas and the Mt. Guiting-Guiting protected landscape.
