PANGATAMAN-Bikol

RNews Release

Reference: Engr. Virgilio Perdigon Jr., vice-president for external affairs, PANGATAMAN-Bikol

Unmindful of the destruction of the island Lafayette to expand operations in Rapu-Rapu!

Green group asks new Legazpi bishop to oppose mining in Rapu-rapu

The environmental institution PANGATAMAN-Bikol (Bicol Center for Environmental Protection) raised the alarm that once again Lafayette is gearing to further exploit Rapu-Rapu Island to the detriment of its residents and environment. The company is already operating in three (3) villages of the island. The Mineral Production Sharing Agreements already held by Lafayette, per MGB records, covers 4,610 hectares out of the island's 5,589-hectare land area, or 82.5%. In the 2008 Annual Report of Malaysia Smelting Corporation, which owns 30% of the mine, the total area covered by MPSA's is 5218 hectares. This means an additional 608 hectares. In the endorsement of MGB V, exactly 608 hectares is specified as the area of Poblacion and Morocborocan that would be explored. The area targeted for exploration was cited by Governor Joey Salceda in 2007 to be vetoed by his office should Lafayette intend to apply for exploration there.

According to Engr. Virgilio Perdigon Jr. “Lafayette has not even acknowledged responsibility for the numerous fish kills that happened in the island since 2005 and now they have the gall to expand their operation to two more villages.

“We are definitely against further degradation of the island and we hope that other sectors that stood up then in opposing Lafayette will come to the fore once again to stop this. We hope that the provincial government under Governor Salceda would not forget its slogan a couple of years back when it posted streamers around the capitol saying “ALBAY NO TO MINING!” said the environmentalist.

“We also hope that the new bishop of Legazpi City Bishop Joel Baylon would take the same stand as his predecessor Bishop Lucilo Quiambao and be a vocal opponent of mining in Rapu-Rapu. What is needed now is to put an immediate stop to mining in the island and not to expand it. Otherwise, Lafayette is courting another environmental disaster, ” ended Perdigon.

To date there has been at least 5 major fish kills in the waters near the island since 2005 caused by the mining operations of Lafayette. If ever there is no more fishkill that is because there are no more fish to kill; they have died due to continuing heavy metal pollution. Fishermen around Albay Gulf attest that fish catch is down from 50 to 3 bañeras since 2005, the same year when Lafayette started full operation. Approximately 14,000 fishermen are affected by the decline, against the 918 jobs boasted by Lafayette to have been generated. The creeks are severely contaminated as manifested by their brown, yellow, red, and orange coloration. Plants and fish do not thrive there. More lamentably, the people of Rapu-Rapu are grinding under severe poverty, contrary to earlier promises that mining would bring propserity to the island.

The MGB V endorsement of the Lafayette application to expand operation to two more villages is a callous response to the plight of the people of Rapu-Rapu and the fishermen depending on Albay Gulf. # # #