SEVERAL groups have expressed hesitation over the three main agenda of this year’s two-day Mindanao Business Conference (Minbizcon) at the Grand Caprice Restaurant Friday.
Organizers of Minbizcon have earlier announced that they would be focusing on the agriculture, energy, and mining sectors as its top agenda in this year’s conference.
Wilmar “Datu Bong” Ampuan, chairperson of a tribal organization in Bukidnon that opposes the construction of the Pulangi V mega dam, said the energy sector might capitalize some 40,000-hectare of ancestral domain that belong to them, which composed of seven municipalities in the southern part Bukidnon.
Ampuan said around 3,000 inhabitants in the said areas are feared to be displaced if the project would be realized, believing that the business conference would conclude to push for it.
He also expressed sentiments over the government’s disregard of their right to decide whether to leave these areas to pave way for the construction of the giant dam.
“Why are they (government) asking outsiders what should be good for us? Why not ask us?” Ampuan said during a press briefing in a local restaurant here Thursday.
Ampuan said there were reports that some Lumads have reportedly signed an agreement with a private firm in Bukidnon signifying their consent for the construction of the said dam.
However, he said these Lumads “signed because they are not directly affected” by the project.
“We are willing to sit down with the power firms, including the government, for a concrete solution to the conflict,” Ampuan said as he reiterated their earlier plea not to construct the project inside their ancestral domain.
Meanwhile, Carl Cesar Rebuta of Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) said Minbizcon’s agenda on mining would not warrant a good result to the environment as it would harm the inhabitants affected by mining activities, especially those living within the watershed areas.
“They (indigenous families) would need to walk two kilometers just to fetch tap water to drink since their sources of water in their nearby residence are contaminated with chemicals due to mining,” Rebuta said.
He added that the law on mining is “problematic as congressmen are involved on irresponsible mining.”
Recently, around 300 protesters from different groups rallied in front of Manila Hotel demanding irresponsible miners to get out of the Philippines.
The group also questioned the agricultural agenda of the business conference, saying the government must, strictly and with political will, shift the country’s farming industry into organic farming and do away with chemical-based farming.
Bobby Pagusara, executive director of farmers’ group Masipag, also said land conversion must be stopped where farmlands intended for rice or other grains production were converted for pineapple, bio-fuels and other plantations.
He admitted that organic-based farming products are expensive but this “is because of the middle men who buy rice and other grains on cheaper price and sell it with prices higher than those produce through a chemical-based farming.”
The Minbizcon, is expected to be attended by around 500 business leaders who would submit to President Benigno Aquino their recommendations to propel economic development in Mindanao through the three sectors. (Loui S. Maliza)
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