BK discusses alternative mining development framework in UNDP-organized workshop

Ms. Tina Pimentel of Bantay Kita presented on the current and alternative mining development frameworks in the Philippines in a workshop organized by the United Nations Development Program Philippines held in Tagaytay City last November 23 .

Ms. Pimentel, Program Manager of BK, discussed to a multi-stakeholder audience a presentation titled “Mining Development Framework in the Philippines: Minimizing Losses, Maximizing Gains”. She talked about the mainstream development framework in mining used in many developed countries and how it failed to achieve gains in the Philippines and in other developing countries.

She cited a UNCTAD research findings stating that the experience of developed countries with this framework cannot be replicated in developing countries. She later pressed on the alternative development framework which Bantay Kita is advocating for. This alternative framework states that for extractive industries to contribute to sustainable development, these industries must minimize their negative impacts to the environment and community; ensure fair share between government and industry; promote forward linkages; and diversify investment towards intergenerational gains.

The 2-day workshop aimed to work towards crafting an environmental governance framework, by having a better appreciation of the interlinkages among the environment, human rights, economy. It also served as an opportunity for the various stakeholders to discuss and examine the issues related to environmental governance, including issues such as human rights, corruption, access to justice, extractives, coastal management, and its impact on people and biodiversity.

UNDP Philippines formed a multi-sectoral Environmental Governance Consortium to discuss policy reforms processes on environmental governance. The said consortium presently consists of the Supreme Court (SC), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Commission on Audit (CoA), the Regional Human Rights Commission in ARMM (RHRC), the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), Christian Convergence for Good Governance (CCGG), and UNDP Philippines.

The workshop was borne from a UNDP report stating that for issues in the extractive industries in the Philippines be addressed, institutional frameworks need to be strengthened along with building partnerships between government and civil society.

​Ms. Pimentel was joined by other civil society organization representatives coming from Alyansa Tigil Mina, Lilak (Purple Action for Indigenous Peoples), Philippine Association for Intercultural Development, and Christian Convergence for Good Governance.