An International Fact-Finding Mission (IFFM) today declared that it found overwhelming evidence that off-shore mining exploration activities of foreign transnational companies in marine biodiversity centers in Central Visayas,  Philippines violates the social, economic, and cultural rights of thousands of fisherfolk and encroaches upon the country’s national patrimony and sovereignty.

“It is disturbing to know that the Philippine government is hell-bent on pursuing these so-called energy development projects despite the overwhelming opposition of citizens, especially the poor fisherfolk who are the most affected. We have seen in Asia and many parts of the globe that at the end of the day, they will only benefit the companies and corrupt government officials. History shows us that oil doesn’t translate to wealth of the people,” said Gilbert Sape of the People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS), a delegate of the IFFM sponsored by the Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP).

Other delegates of the IFFM include Vince Cinches of Central Visayas Fisheries Development Center, Inc. (FIDEC) and Meggie Nolasco of Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment (Philippines); Andry Wijaya of Jatam-Indonesia and the Oil Watch Southeast Asia; Teh Chun Hong of PAN AP; and Wichoksak Ronnarongpairee and Busarin Pandit of the Federation of Southern Fisherfolk (Thailand).

The 4- day IFFM, in collaboration with NGOs and grassroots organizations in the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental, found that the seismic surveys and drilling operations in the Taòon Strait and the Cebu-Bohol Strait since 2005 caused a drastic 70 – 80% reduction in fish catch. As a result, many fisherfolk’s children have stopped schooling or are getting sick because of lack of income. These findings were based on field interviews with fisherfolk in the municipalities of Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan and Argao in Cebu; consultations with fisherfolk leaders in the region; and studies conducted by FIDEC and the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a national fisherfolks’ movement.

The IFFM further discovered that the communities and local government officials were not consulted by the mining companies before entering the seas, in violation of several Philippine laws. However, it was also disturbed by reports that some local government officials are involved in unethical relations with the mining companies and that the military has been deployed in certain areas to intimidate and quell the growing citizens’ movement against off-shore mining.

The IFFM encouraged the Cebu provincial government to make permanent the cease-and-desist order it recently issued against oil exploration activities, calling it an admirable triumph of local citizens’ movements that could be emulated by the international community if it stays in place. But it also demanded that the Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Inc. and Australian-owned Norasian Energy Unlimited be made accountable for its crimes against the environment and the Visayan people.
The IFFM also called on the Philippine government to instead craft and implement measures to reduce oil dependency and carbon emission in order to mitigate the impact of climate change; as well as carry out sustainable agriculture and authentic eco-tourism.

The IFFM is set to come out with a People’s Speak-Out, a comprehensive report on the issue, which will be sent to concerned government officials in the Philippines and international bodies like the United Nations. It will be distributed as well to local, national, and international networks to raise awareness and gather support for the campaign. ###