Joint Statement of DEFEND our Sea Coalition and FIDEC Inc. on Offshore Mining in Central Visayas

DEFEND OUR SEA COALITION!
COALITION AGAINST OFF-SHORE MINING FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES

STOP ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION. STOP DISLOCATION OF FISHERFOLKS.
RESIST FOREIGN CONTROL OVER OUR RESOURCES.

The planned off-shore mining exploration in Cebu-Bohol Strait is not alarming. it is revolting.

DOE and other government agencies tasked at protecting the environment have become willing apologists, partners and lackeys of destructive foreign monopoly corporation.

Being partners, they became blind to the overwhelming effects of exploration in Tañon Strait. Being lackeys they ignored credible scientific data that exploration has resulted in fish kills, reduction of fish catch, destruction of fishing gears, destruction of fish aggregation devices, and other health related problems.

This project like the Tañon strait exploration lacks transparency, corporations and government agencies involved is hiding important details and particularities of the project from the public.

The claims of these agencies regarding energy independence is nothing but an attempt to make the poison more palatable and seeks to mislead the Visayans. Under the service contract, corporations were given sole authority to identify, develop, and distribute whatever fossil fuel deposits in the area.

As with Tañon Strait, a large part of the Cebu-Bohol Strait is protected, being one of the global center of marine biodiversity. The Cebu-Bohol strait like Tañon is a migratory path and breeding ground for species from other countries.

The exploration will not only affect the local economy and tourism of Cebu and Bohol it will have a great repercussion on food security in the Visayas, Philippines, and the world.

As experienced, JAPEX failed to compensate the owners of payao and other fish aggregating devices destroyed during the exploration in Tañon and no amount of assurance can allay our fears regarding the projects.

In the course of the Tañon exploration, the corporations and government agencies involved in the project failed to identify and implement alternative livelihood for affected communities.

It is reckless for DOE to dole-out certificate of non-coverage to NorAsian without the consent of local government authorities and the affected communities. It is equally condemnable for DENR and EMB for consenting and its failure to act against the obvious destruction of protected areas.

With this we demand that the project should be stopped at all cost. We cannot afford to trade the irreparable damage to our marine sources for a few million of pesos which will benefit the few corrupt officials in the government.

We call on various government agencies in the area to reiterate their strong stand against the project. We also urge various environmental advocates, organizations to stand against the destruction of our marine resources.

Instead of pursuing destructive projects, we urge the government to channel their efforts in sustainably developing the lives of the marginalized fisherfolks and pursuing the development of clean and renewable energy sources. Pursuing the development of Renewable energy sources can save RP with $ 2.3 Billion annually.

Based on WWF-Philippines' 10-year PowerSwitch scenario, the country should bring down dependence fossil fuel to 28 percent by 2012 from the current 61 percent.

STOP OFF-SHORE MINING.
JUNK MINING ACT OF 1995.
DEFEND THE PEOPLE. DEFEND THE SEAS.

DEFEND OUR SEA COALITION
CENTRAL VISAYAS FISHERFOLK DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC.
(032)256 1365
0905 2624123