Small scale miners band together, seek legal recognition

Miners belonging to the artisanal small scale mining sector have organized themselves to seek legal recognition and support from the government.

"Eto ang bagong natatag na National Coalition for Small-scale Mining. We are molding now into one body throughout the Philippines para ho may isang malakas kami na grupo na whenever there is a problem especially on legislative matters maparating namin sa gobyerno," Bert Buniales, president of the coalition, said in a press conference on Tuesday.

The group's main agenda is to make ASM sector considered as a legitimate part of the economy.

Buniales noted that the group seeks legalization of ASM sector under the purview of "Minahang Bayan" as provided for in the Section 2 of RA 7160 or Local Government Code of the Philippines.

The small-scale miners' coalition noted that the ASM sector has long been neglected and regarded as illegal despite the fact that it consists of 350,000 people as per Department of Environment of Natural Resources (DENR) estimates and benefits around 2 million people.

"Sa pamamagitan ng koalisyon, ang mga maliliit na minero ay mabibigyan ng pagkakataon na maging legal. Napakalaking hakbang ng pagbuo ng koalisyon para maging legal, maayos, at responsable ang pagmimina," said Sarah Aviado, vice president for Luzon of the coalition.

Aside, from seeking legal recognition of the ASM sector, the group have the following calls for the Duterte administation:

• Establish a transition period for mercury use and immediately provide support training for safer and acceptable methodologies for small-scale gold mining practices.
• Provide investment and support for gold produced by ASGM to prevent black market trading.
• Immediately amend RA 7076 and enact meaningful legislation that addresses the real needs of artisanal and small-scale miners.
• Promote awareness on mercury toxicity and its impacts on health and environment through partnerships with key agencies to aid in the protection of our basic life support system.
• Protect the vulnerable groups such indegenous people, women, amd children involbed in ASGM and empower stakeholders of ASGM communities.
• Engage reaL small-scale miners in the development of laws and regulations.

Environmental non-government organization BAN Toxics facilitated the formation of the group in April.

BAN Toxics in an NGO that has been working with small-scale gold miners to eliminate the use of mercury. —NB, GMA News