This recent backtracking of President Rodrigo “Roa” Duterte and his administration on mining prove that indeed his past pronouncements and posturing as pro-environment is nothing but lip service.

The reasons for the amendment are unsubstantial and flawed.  One, with regards to its claim that will add to the needed revenue and will generate jobs:

WE believe that mining is NOT a significant and sustainable job generating industry. One, with regards to its claim that it will  add to the needed revenue and will generate jobs, this sector has been consistently employing below 1% percent of the Philippine’s total employment from 2013 – 2018 (See Table 1. Data on Employment – Mining and Quarrying from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau 2013 – 2019).

Poverty incidence in host mining provinces is high. The DENR, along with the Department of Finance, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, and their apologetics have come to conclude that mining contributes to poverty alleviation. Looking into the poverty incidence among families for the year 2015 based on regional Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold among prominent mining regions MIMAROPA, CARAGA, Region IX Zamboanga Peninsula (ZAMPEN), Region XII SOCCSKSARGEN, and Region V Bicol in relation to the national Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, we can deduce that mining operations within these regions does not necessarily help in alleviating poverty (See Table 2 below).

WE believe that the Philippine mining sector does not contribute to government revenue. A review of the Philippine government’s revenue from mining from National Government Revenues – Tax Revenues (treasury.gov.ph) and that of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Mining Industry Data 2013 – 2018 show the Philippine Mining industry is, was, and forever shall be, an export-oriented industry geared towards serving foreign countries need for raw and semi-processed minerals which means, the argument that it can support the needs of this government’s Build, Build, Build program is posited on a false idea that we manufacture our own steel and other metallic minerals into infrastructure components (See Table 3 below).

Worse, the share of the Philippine mining sector to the economy has yet to surpass the 2% share to the country’s total revenue! (See Table 3 Percentage share of Philippine Mining Sector to Philippine Export, and Government Revenue from Taxes, Fees, and Royalties in millions of Php).

Moreover, the EO is deceitful. We doubt that the second amendment in the new Order requiring strict implementation of Mine Safety and Environmental Policies will be implemented and just an icing to the cake to douse off cold water to oppositions and challenges it will meet.

We do not believe that the current policies will safeguard the rights of communities, and the integrity of their environment against the onslaught of foreign-capitalized large-scale mining.  Our communities are witness to this. Among those that suffer the most  from irresponsible large-scale mining corporations are communities of Marinduque, Rapu-rapu Island in Albay, and Manicani Island of Eastern Samar. These communities up to this moment bear witness to the scars and poison of open-pit mining – Marcopper Mining Tragedy of 1996 poisoned the Boac River and the communities living within the area; the un-rehabilitated mine site of Manicani Island despite Hinatuan Mining Corporations’ expired mining contract; and worse, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the DENR has approved its mining contract in the past without Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan per mandated by law.

We find the current government is insensitive and oblivious to the current situation of the world confronted with the environmental and ecological crisis.

WE are in the midst of a Climate Crisis. Based on the 2018 Global Climate Risk Index, the Philippines was ranked second among the world’s most vulnerable in terms of the weather-related loss such as floods, storms, and heatwaves (Global Climate Risk Index, 2020). Opening-up new mines in rural areas put them at greater risk on the impacts of climate change. This is a scientific fact, neglected by the DENR and Office of the President when it imprinted its imprimatur on Executive Order 130.

This  insensible decision by this administration makes clearer the government’s priorities and for whom is its promised development directed to. Mining industry has contributed greatly to the loss of biodiversity and this decreases natural and human resilience against impacts of climate changes such as drought, rising sea level and strong Typhoons such as Yolanda which devastated Eastern Samar back in 2013. The loss of forest covers leads to lessened ability for carbon sequestration and oxygen production, which are important to stabilize and balance climate changes. Wild animals being forced to move out due to habitat loss by mining bear the consequences that could reach catastrophic heights such as more zoonotic diseases like the COVID-19 pandemic. All these consequences will only have the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged sector of the Filipino people bear the brunt of this questionable economic development.

We deplore this new destructive measure disguising as a move to favor development of people.  This measure is short-sighted and fails to reflect on its longstanding impact to our ecosystem and people. There is a firm need for the government, especially environmental agencies, to properly recognize the intersectionality of social and environmental issues anchored in exploitation of nature.

Duterte opponents organize Mass to highlight woes caused or made worse by Duterte administration

Joseph Peter Calleja
Manila | April 12, 2021

A group of Catholics in the Philippines celebrated the feast of Divine Mercy in an online anticipated Mass on April 10 to pray for healthcare workers, coronavirus patients and victims of extrajudicial killings.

The Mass was organized by 1Sambayan, a coalition of political and national groups opposed to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Their aim was to present to Filipinos what they said were dire problems gripping the nation caused by the incompetence of the Duterte administration.

The Eucharist was presided over by Jesuit Father Albert Alejo together with Divine Word Society Father Flavie Villanueva, Vincentian Father Danny Pilario and Father Robert Reyes, all staunch critics of the president’s deadly war on drugs that has claimed thousands of lives in recent years.

Father Reyes read the Gospel while Father Pilario gave the reflection.

Father Villanueva delivered the Prayers of the Faithful together with the homeless of Saint Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center, a refuge that feeds Manila’s homeless.

“We have a saying that if there is suffering, there is the mercy of God. That mercy of God is called divine mercy. Today, we seek God’s mercy, especially when we are in a desperate situation like this pandemic,” Father Alejo said at the Mass.

Every Catholic in the Philippines must seek and beg for divine mercy like those whose loved ones died because of Covid-19, those who lost their jobs, and those with mental health problems and depression, he said.

“Everyone has deep questions today, they are deep that there are no immediate answers … Let us remember today those who died [in extrajudicial killings] because they died out of man’s cruelty and lack of mercy,” Father Alejo added.

In his homily, Vincentian priest Father Pilario said Filipinos could be the modern-day “doubting Thomas” for finding difficulty in believing in Jesus’ resurrection.

“We cannot blame the modern-day doubting Thomas. With the number of corpses in crematoriums here in Manila or in hospital morgues, we too can ask — Where is the resurrection?” Father Pilario said in his homily.

He said Jesus understood why Thomas doubted his resurrection.

Like many Filipinos suffering, it was difficult to believe in the midst of anxiety, fear and anger, Father Pilario said.

He recalled his missionary work in Payatas, Manila’s biggest dumpsite and an area that has seen many killings in Duterte’s drug war.

“While in Payatas [dumpsite], I saw chicks on top of the casket of a victim of an extrajudicial killing. I asked the mother why they had put a chick on the glass of the coffin. The mother replied that while the chick pecks at the glass … it also does so to his killers’ conscience.”

UCAN News

Misyon bilang lay-missionary | Otto de Vries

Bilang isang lay-missionary mula sa Diocese ng Rotterdam sa Netherlands, dumating ako sa Pilipinas noong 1991 mula sa imbitasyon ni Bishop Labayen ng Prelature of Infanta. Naka-udyok sa akin ang apila ni Bishop na isabuhay ang Simbahan ng mga Dukha sa aking misyon na lumubog sa araw-araw na realidad ng mga manggagawa. Bilang kasapi ng Calama, sumapi ako sa kanilang grupo sa Pasig.

Sa higit sa 20 taon namuhay ako sa isang maralitang komunidad sa Lungsod ng Pasig. Ang karanasan ko sa  hanay ng mga maralitang lungsod at uring manggagawang Pilipino ay nagmulat sa akin sa realidad ng kanilang kalagayan. Matapos makumpleto ang isang kurso sa Tagalog at kurso para sa mga welder, nagtrabaho ako bilang welder at bilang structural fitter sa unang 10 taon ng aking pamamalagi. Naranasan ko ang realidad na kinakaharap ng mga manggagawa na kumikita ng wala pa sa minimum na sahod, bilang isang kontraktwal na manggagawa sa ilalim ng isang kontrata na wala pang anim na buwan ang itatagal at walang kasiguradihan ng renewal. Sa loob ng tatlong taon ay nagtrabaho ako sa maintenance ng isang pagawaan ng bakal, una sa ilalim ng isang ahensiya, at kalaunan ay bilang direct hire. Nagtangka ang mga kapwa ko manggagawa na magtayo ng unyon ngunit nagsara ang pagawaan.

Nang matapos ko ang isang bokasyunal na kurso sa electricity sa Salesian brothers of Don Bosco sa Tondo noong 2000, nagtrabaho ako bilang electrician para sa iba’t-ibang subcontractor at noong 10 taon sa isang electrical na subcontractor sa mga malalaking construction project. Naranasan ko ang masaklap na kalagayan sa paggawa ng mga manggagawa sa construction. Nakakaligtaan ang mga batayang karapatan sa paggawa tulad ng minimum wage, security of tenure, ligtas na paggawa. Dagdag pa, ang kakulangan ng kagamitan ay lalong nagpapahirap sa trabaho at lalong nagiging mapanganib. Habang ibinabahagi namin sa isa’t-isa ang mga karanasan na iyon, nakumbinsi akong itala sa isang pananaliksik ang mga kalagayan sa paggawa sa iba’t-ibang subcontractor, laluna sa huling proyekto na pinagtrabahuhan ko. Kongkretong ipinakita ng pananaliksik ang lumalalang kalagayan sa paggawa sa kada antas ng subcontracting. Ilan sa mga kaibigan ko ang umudyok sa akin na ibahagi ang aking mga pagtingin sa Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research o EILER, bilang isang mahusay na research NGO na kilala ng maraming manggagawa at unyonista.

Sa kasabay na panahon, naging regular ang pagbisita ko sa isang piket ng mga kababaihang manggagawa ng kasuotan. Nakatulong ito para maunawaan ko ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaisa ng mga manggagawa at ang kanilang kolektibong pagkilos para makamit ang kanilang karapatan. Pinabayaan ng management ang lehitimong panawagan ng mga manggagawa at basta na lamang sinara ang pabrika. Sa pamamagitan ng paglubog sa mga manggagawa, naunawaan ko kung gaano ka lala ang pagsasamantala sa industriya ng kasuotan.

Dahil sa matibay na pagkakaisa ng mga manggagawa, tumagal ng isang dekada ang piket. May ilan sa mga manggagawa ang doon na mismo sa piket nagtayo ng pamilya. Dahil nakikabit sila para magkakuryente, nagkaroon ng ilaw sa piket at maaari na rin silang makapagluto. Bilang electrician, tumulong ako sa mga pagsasa-ayos. Nanalo sila sa kanilang kaso matapos ang 6 na taon, ngunit ni hindi sila binayaran kahit isang sentimo. Saka, ilang tangka ng mga awtoridad na binuwag ang piket, noong huling 2 taon iniwanan na lang ang toldang piket. Matapos ang pang-anim tangka na buwagin ang piket, nagpasya kaming iwan ito. Kaya bago umalis, kasama ang dalawang manggagawa ay nagsalo kami sa aming “huling hapunan” na kanin at sardinas.

Maka-ilang ulit ding binisita ang piket ng mga grupong simbahan na sumusuporta sa kanila at nagnanais na lalo pang maunawaan ang punto-de-bista ng mga manggagawa. Ang suporta ng mga lokal na parokya ay batay sa pananaw ng pari. Ang pari sa aking parokya, si Msgr Pagulayan, ay napakabukas at bumisita sa piket upang makipag-usap sa mga manggagawa para maunawaan ang kalagayan nila.

Tungo sa Simbahan ng mga Dukha

Napakahalaga para misyon na gawin ito bilang isang grupo, bilang Calama. Ibinahagi namin sa isa’t-isa ang mga naging karanasan at ini-ugnay ito sa salita ng Diyos, na nagpalalim sa pagganyak ng bawat isa. Madalas naming ibinabahagi ang aming karanasan kay Bishop Labayen para sa kanyang pastoral na patnubay, at nagpatuloy sa kaniyang mga kahalili: sina bishop Tirona at Bernard Cortez ng Prelature. 

Pangunahing misyon naming sa Simbahan ay ang pormasyon ng mga seminarista at mga layko. Nag-aayos kami ng mga exposures para sa mga seminarista sa hanay ng mga manggagawa, kung saan, nang hindi inilalantad ang kanilang sarili bilang mga seminarista, ay nagaapply at nagtatrabaho bilang manggagawa, na nagmumulat sa kanila sa realidad ng kalagayan ng mga anak ng Diyos. Labis na napukaw si Father Joseph Buslon sa kaniyang paglubog sa mga manggagawa na ini-alay niya ang sarili sa pagtulong sa pagtatayo ng labor ministry matapos nitong maging pari. Kasama sa dedikasyon at panlipunang pagsisiyasat ng layko, nalaman ng diocese of Novaliches ang kalagayan ng mga manggagawa na naging batayan sa pagpapa-unlad ng labor ministry nito.

Noong 1987, ang Calama, sa ilalim ng gabay ni bishop Labayen, ay sumulat ng isang kontribusyon sa Synod sa Bokasyon at Misyon ng mga Layko. Sa kontribusyon na ito, binigyang diin ang tungkulin ng diakonia, ang paglilingkod ng simbahan sa lipunan bilang tungkulin ng layko ay sa pamamagitan ng pag-aambag sa pagtatayo ng lipunang makatarungan. Ang Social Teachings of the Church ay nagbibigay ng gabay sa kanilang pormasyon bilang layko. Dagdag pa, ang mga lokal, regional at pambansang forum ay naka-ambag sa pagbabahagi ng karanasan sa hanay ng mga layko. Naging bahagi ako ng mga pagtatangkang ito mula pa 2000. Bilang lay-group, ibinahagi namin ang aming karanasan sa lipunan at sa simbahan at pinalalim ang aming pag-unawa upang mailahad ang identidad at kontribusyon bilang layko.

Noong 2014, na-aksidente ako kung kaya hindi ko na maipapagpatuloy ang pagtatrabaho ko bilang electrician. Sa sumunod na taon, umugnay sa akin ang EILER sa batayan ng aking pananaliksik sa kalagayan sa paggawa ng mga subcontractor sa construction at inimbitahan ako na maging mananaliksik. Habang mas nakikilala ko ang EILER bilang isang institusyong ekumenikal para sa mga manggagawa, mas lalo akong nagkaroon ng pagpapahalaga sa ugnay ng Simabahan sa kilusang paggawa, at patuloy na isabuhay ang aking misyon sa hanay ng mga manggagawa. Nang maging parish priest si Father Ronald Macale ng St. Joseph Shrine kung saan nakapaloob ang EILER, ulit kaming nakipag-ugnayan katulad noon siya formator sa San Carlos seminary na nakipagsasa-ayos kami ng mga exposure para sa mga seminarista sa hanay ng mga manggagawa.

Matapos ang 30 taon, ang aking misyon ng pakiki-isa sa hanay ng mga manggagawa at pagtatayo ng Simabahan ng mga Dukha ay patitigil dahil sa kanselasyon ng aking visa. Inutusan akong umalis ng Pilipinas, na naging tahanan ko na sa loob ng 30 taon, dahil sa mga malisyosong bintang, at hindi man lang dumaan sa angkop na proseso. Taliwas sa mga akusasyon ng NICA, hindi gumagawa o sumusuporta sa teroristang mga gawain ang EILER o ako. Sa katunayan, naglilimbag ng mga pananaliksik at educational modules ang EILER batay sa katotohanan at kongkretong kalagayan ng mga manggagawa, at lumalaban para sa isang makatarungang lipunan. Isa lamang itong hakbang upang manakot sa mga lumalaban para sa batayang karapatan at panlipunang hustisya, at upang patigilin sila sa pakikibaka.

A mission as lay-missionary/Otto de Vries

As a lay missionary from the Diocese of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, I came to the Philippines in 1991 on the invitation of Bishop Labayen of the Prelature of Infanta. The appeal of the Bishop to live out the Church of the Poor inspired me on my mission to immerse in the everyday reality of the workers. As a member of Calama, I joined their group in Pasig.

For more than 20 years, I lived in an urban poor community in the City of Pasig. My experience among the urban poor and working class Filipinos opened my eyes to the reality of their plight. After completing a tagalog course and a course for welders, I worked as a welder and as a structural fitter for the first 10 years. I experienced the reality faced by workers earning hardly a minimum wage, as a contractual worker under a contract of less than six months without guarantee of renewal. For three years, I worked in the maintenance of a steel factory, first under an agency, and later on as a direct hire. My fellow workers attempted to build a union, but the factory closed.

After finishing a vocational course in electricity with the Salesian brothers of Don Bosco in Tondo in 2000, I worked as an electrician for various subcontractors and for almost 10 years for one electrical subcontractor in big construction projects. I experienced the harsh working conditions of workers in the construction industry. Basic labor rights such as the minimum wage, security of tenure and work safety are neglected. Moreover, the lack of tools and equipment make the work difficult and all the more dangerous. As we shared those experiences among ourselves, I was challenged to put those working conditions with the different subcontractors on paper, especially in one of the last projects I worked for. This research concretely showed the worsening working conditions with each layer of subcontracting. Several friends urged me to share this insight with the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research or EILER, as this institution is a well-established research NGO and known by many workers and trade unionists.

In the same period, I regularly visited a picket line of garment women workers. It made me realize the importance of workers solidarity and collective action in attaining their rights. The management had completely ignored the workers’ legitimate demands and closed down the factory. By immersing with the workers I realized how the exploitation in the garment industry was much worse.

Because of the strong solidarity among the workers, the picket protest lasted for a decade. Some of the workers eventually started a family in the picket. With tapped electricity, they had light in the picket and they were also able to cook. As an electrician, I helped with repairs. They won their case after six years, but they were not paid even a single centavo. Thereafter, several times the authorities demolished their picket, so the last 2 years only a plastic sheet remained of their picket. After the sixth attempt, we decided to leave. Before leaving, I, with two workers, had still our “last supper” of rice and sardines.

 The picket also had several visits with a group of faithful who supported them and wanted to further understand the workers’ punto-de-vista. Support from the local parish depends much on the attitude of the priest. The priest of my parish, Msgr Pagulayan, was very open and visited the picket and talked to the workers to understand their plight.

Towards a Church of the Poor

It is vital for such mission to do this as a group, as Calama. We shared our experiences with one another and related these to the word of God, which deepened each ones’ motivation. We regularly shared our experiences with Bishop Labayen, whose pastoral guidance continued with his successors: bishops Tirona and Bernard Cortez of the Prelature.

 Our main mission in the Church is the formation of seminarians and laity. We facilitated exposures for seminarians among the workers, in which they, without revealing their identity as seminarians, applied and worked as unskilled workers, confronting them with a reality where God seems to be absent. Father Joseph Buslon was so inspired by his immersion among the workers that he dedicated himself to help build a labor ministry after becoming a priest. Because of the dedication of laity to make a social investigation, the diocese of Novaliches learned of the condition of the workers which became the basis for developing its labor ministry.

In 1987, Calama, under the guidance of bishop Labayen, had written a contribution to the Synod on the Vocation and Mission of the Laity. In this contribution, diakonia, service of the church to society as task of the laity is emphasized to contribute to a more just society. In it, the Social Teachings of the Church is part of their, this formation as laity. Furthermore, local, regional and national fora on their Vocation and Mission have contributed to the sharing of experiences among the laity. I have been involved in this initiative since 2000. As a lay-group, we shared our experiences in society and church and deepened our understanding to express more our identity and contribution as lay.

In 2014, I had an accident that prevented me from continuing my work as an electrician. The next year, EILER reached out to me on the basis of my research on the working conditions of the subcontractors in construction and invited me to become a researcher. As I became more familiar with EILER as an ecumenical service institute for the workers, I gained a better appreciation of the importance of the Church’s link with the Labor movement, and so continued to live out my mission among the workers. When Father Ronald Macale became the parish priest of the St Joseph Shrine to which EILER belongs, our collaboration is revived. When he was formator at San Carlos seminary, we worked closely together in facilitating exposures for the seminarians among the workers.

After 30 years, this mission of solidarity among the workers and building the Church of the Poor is being put to a halt with the cancellation of my permanent visa. Without due process, and under malicious allegations, I was ordered to leave the Philippines which has been my home country for the last 30 years. Contrary to accusations of NICA, neither I nor EILER engage in or support acts of terrorism. On the contrary, EILER publishes research and educational modules based on facts and the concrete conditions of the workers, and is fighting for a just society. This is merely a ploy to sow fear on those advocating for basic rights and social justice, and to stop them from struggling.

 Be that as it may, I’m very thankful to my fellow workers, those in the pickets lines, and many urban poor in their communities, who shared their punto-de-vista and solidarity with me. This solidarity for justice and human dignity as well as an expression of love for your neighbor, motivates to continue our struggle for a just society with them. Lastly, this has become a source of inspiration, as an expression of the presence of the Holy Spirit among the poor, for our mission to build the Church of the Poor.

April 2021