‘Call of the times’: Environmentalists urge passage of anti-dynasty law

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Jaybee Garganera of Alyansa Tigil Mina says there will be a failure of governance when powerful politicians are behind mining corporations

MANILA, Philippines – A coalition challenging large-scale mining called on the government to pass an anti-dynasty law, echoing a broad progressive movement in protest of the political dynasties connected to the corruption scandal in the country.

“When politicians are beneficial owners or when politicians are part of the value chain of mining operations, we cannot expect compliance with environmental laws and other regulatory policies,” said Jaybee Garganera, national coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), on Thursday, December 11.

Advocacy watchdog Global Witness and ATM released a report Thursday linking nickel mined in the Philippines to leading manufacturers of electric vehicles.

The report traced ties between Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation – linked to the President’s cousin and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez – and Chinese metal traders supplying materials for carmakers. Marcventures operates a nickel mine in Surigao del Sur covering 4,799 hectares.

“There will be failure of governance where powerful politicians are behind [these] mining [corporations],” Garganera said, adding that they have been recommending the passage of such a law as a response to the “call of the times” when the country is mired in the flood control corruption controversy. (READ: Tracing the money, exposing the network: A year of Rappler investigations)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. already had the anti-dynasty bill on top of his priority legislation. A day before the Palace announcement, the Anti-Dynasty Network was launched.

Aside from the anti-dynasty law, Garganera said they are also advocating for a bill on extractive industry transparency to “force” firms into disclosing contracts, payments, and the beneficial owners of the companies.

Transparency on the value chain of extractive industries can help watchdogs monitor if manufacturers are assessing risks to human rights and environment.

The report included anecdotes of fishers and farmers in Cantilan, a town in Surigao del Sur, affected by Marcventures’ mining operations. Interviews in the report tell of a decrease in fish stocks, polluted irrigation canals, and deforestation.

“Our investigation found that communities and the environment are being sacrificed on the road to net-zero,” said Hannah Hindstrom, lead investigator at Global Witness, on Thursday.

“Downstream companies, mostly in the global north, extract enormous profits from the Philippines’ nickel industry. But people on the ground pay a heavy, heavy price. Only robust rules that hold the most powerful accountable can help create a fairer and more just world,” Hindstrom added.

The Philippines is the second-largest producer of nickel in the world, following Indonesia. Nickel is among the top minerals needed for the global shift to renewables, along with lithium, cobalt, and copper. – Rappler.com