Mining Doesn’t Bring Prosperity: Foundation Exec
Friday, August 19, 2011
ESTABLISHMENT of mining firms in the country guarantees no prosperity and this won’t solve the country’s poverty problem, a philanthropist said Friday.
Gina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation, said in a forum at the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) that mining firms is not and should not be the last resort for the country’s poverty woes.
The forum was organized in a bid to protect Palawan from the harsh effects of mining firms.
Lopez said that like in the case of some areas in Palawan where mining industry is active, different sector of the community have been adversely affected.
“When they are hungry, they go to the forest. When they got sick, they go to the forest. When their children are going to school, they go to the forest,” Lopez lamented, emphasizing the great importance of nature to the life and livelihood of all Filipino.
She said if the forest, which gives the basic needs of the country will be destroyed due to the presence of mining companies, chances are thousands of families will lose their source of livelihood.
Lopez leads the crusade that aims to spare the island of Palawan from the exploitative mining companies dubbed as “Save Palawan Movement”.
Although it has been clarified that the movement is not totally against mining, what the group primarily want is to spare Palawan because of the role of the island to the biodiversity in the country.
The island is said to be one of the richest islands in terms of natural wonders. It was known for its wonderful flora and fauna that can only be found in the island.
Ensuring the sustainability of food supply in the country has also been cited as one of the key reasons of the group’s opposition to establishments of mining companies in Palawan. (JOP)
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on August 20, 2011.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2011/08/19/mining-doesnt-bring-prosperity-foundation-exec-174119
Blantyre
