Green Group Asks New Legazpi Bishop to Oppose Rapu-rapu Mining

Legazpi City (21 January) -- The environmental institution PANGATAMAN-Bikol (Bicol Center for Environmental Protection) has enjoined the new bishop of Legazpi to support the fight against mining in Rapu-rapu Island even as it raised the alarm that Lafayette is again gearing to further exploit Rapu-Rapu Island to the detriment of its residents and the environment.

According to a statement released by the environmental group, Lafayette is already operating in three 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.

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."

Perdigon added that they are against further degradation of the island and that they hope other sectors that opposed Lafayette previously "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 five major fish kills in the waters near the island since 2005 caused by the mining operations of Lafayette.