Anislagan Bantay Kalikasan Task Force [ABAKATAF]: October 2010

ANISLAGAN, PLACER, SURIGAO DEL NORTE—Their resolve is unwavering as when they filed an environmental case in June 22. Three hearings since, they vowed to mobilize its members to monitor each hearing by trooping outside Surigao Hall of Justice in throngs. Tomorrow will be the fourth hearing of their case.

In an interview, Anislagan Bantay Kalikasan Task Force (ABAKATAF) Chair Ronnie P. Ormega said they pooled all their resources for these mobilizations—and they have pooled enough to hire at least two elf trucks to take members to Surigao City every hearing date.

The multi-sectoral environmental watchdog organization opposed to mining activities, ABAKATAF has been on the forefront in anti-mining struggle for almost 10 years.

“Para ugma, aduna na kita’y nasabot nga duha ka elf para masakyan sa atong mga membro. Magdala kita og mga lingkuranan aron magbantay sa unsay mahitabo didto sa Bulwagan sa Hustisya (We already hired two elf trucks for tomorrow’s hearing to commute our members. We will also be carrying chairs with us so we can monitor our case right at the doorsteps of the Hall of Justice.),” said Ormega.

In June 22, ABAKATAF filed an environmental case against Manila Mining Corp. (MMC), Kalayaan Copper Gold Resources (KCGR), Silangan Mindanao Mining Company (SMMC) and the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and some of its top officials in Caraga Region. It was the first environmental case filed under the new Supreme Court-promulgated “Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases” in Mindanao and also the first to be granted with a temporary environmental protection order (TEPO).

Maya L. Ormega, a mother of three and a community paralegal team member said they were alarmed when, in an ocular inspection, one of the town’s natural water sources virtually dried up.

“Pagkahuman adtong last hearing nangadto mi sa bukal sa Sungkoy og nabalaka kami kay hinay na kaayo ang tubod ini (Right after the last hearing, our team went to check on the spring at Sungkoy in Anislagan and we are concerned when we saw the once free flowing turned to trickles),” she said.

Grassroots lawyer Grace S. Villanueva of the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth, Philippines (LRC-KsK/FoE, Phils) said the community’s resoluteness is infectious.

“Nakakahawa ang kanilang determinasyon at nakakahanga ang kanilang lakas ng loob. Nakakadagdag inspirasyon sa akin para ipagtuloy ang pagdepensa sa karapatan ng mga tao (Their determination is very infectious and their fighting spirit is admirable. These add inspiration to me to prod on in defending their rights)— people who are dependent to their critical watershed and thousand more communities in the Philippines of the same situation,” said Villanueva.

Save Anislagan Watershed

Save our Watershed Save our Livelihood Save our Lives
Baranggay Anislagan, Placer, Surigao del Norte, with its clear and pristine sources of water, rich agricultural lands and peaceful surroundings, it has the trappings of a perfect scene from a postcard. The community of Anislagan is enjoying a simple and idyllic life, not with too much prosperity but enough to make them have a decent living with their farms, made lush and greener by way of irrigation from the clean water source.
Far from Perfect
But all these will about to change into something darker. With Surigao del Norte touted as one of the richest provinces in terms of natural resources, it is now in danger of becoming a barren land, its inhabitants becoming landless farmers and homeless families and individuals. As the province’s gold and nickel deposits are considered first-class, it is a major target for stakeholders in development projects and industrial exploitation.
The Manila Mining Corporation (MMC) was awarded a temporary exploration permit by the government to explore this mineral-rich area. But the move to exploit the area is met with strong opposition. The community itself took initiatives to protect their area, their watershed, their source of food and living, their life. They organized themselves and made various protest actions to save their community. A peoples organization, TASK FORCE ABAKATAF (Anislagan Bantay Kalikasan Task Force), was formed. With Task Force ABAKATAF, the community was one in unity for their own protection. From pickets, to rallies, signature campaigns and the likes, they launched various activities for their cause to be heard and supported. Unfortunately, MMC also filed civil and criminal suits against the community members and Task Force ABAKATAF, their own way of silencing oppression.
The Power Play
Despite such publicity and strong opposition, the MMC was granted a renewal of the Exploration Permit (EP-XIII-) on January 17, 2002. Subsequently, MMC struck a joint venture with Anglo-American in April 2007 which created the company Kalayaan Copper Gold Resources Inc. (KCGR). MMC then assigned a portion of its Exploration permit to KCGR, in which, the new company applied for a new Exploration Permit with number EP-XIII-014B covering at least 286 hectares.
The Resistance of the People Continues
The struggle continues for Baranggay Anislagan. With every unity and collective effort, the chance of victory increases. In protecting our own lives, our rights, our livelihood, our land, one has a stronger chance of restoring their land and their lives to them. A peaceful community, with the trappings of a post-card perfect image, Barangay Anislagan should be saved.

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