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PGMA
Proclaims Critical Watershed in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur
Brgy. San Pedro
Cantilan, Surigao del Sur 8317
Philippines
Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, March 29, 2009: President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo, on March 23, 2009 signed Presidential Proclamation
No. 1747 ‘Declaring the portions of the public domain of Alamio,
Buyaan, Carac-an, Panikian Rivers and Sipangpang Falls, situated in
the municipalities of Carrascal, Cantilan and Madrid, Province of
Surigao del Sur and in the municipalities of Jabonga, Santiago, and
Cabadbaran, Province of Agusan del Norte, as watershed forest
reserves.’
The area comprising Forty-three thousand Six Hundred One (43,601)
hectares was declared as critical watershed forest reserves subject
to prior rights and without prejudice to the rights of the
indigenous peoples and other related rules and regulations. It also
stipulates that ‘Any valid contract, permit or license for the
extraction or utilization of natural resources already existing
prior to the Proclamation shall, subject to national interest and to
existing laws, rules and regulations, be respected until their
termination. However, areas covered by such contracts, permits or
licenses which are found not viable for development after
assessment/exploration shall form part of the watershed forest
reserves. Likewise, all properties and private rights within the
watershed already existing and/or vested prior to this Proclamation
shall be protected and respected in accordance with existing laws.’
The declaration was received by CarCanMadCarLan Baywatch Foundation
as a victory against their struggle to prevent two mining companies,
Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation, and Carac-an
Development Corporation to operate in Cantilan, Madrid and Carrascal.
The two companies’ Mineral Product Sharing Agreements (MPSA) both
owned by Mario Vijungco are located in the watersheds of Carac-an,
Buyaan and Alamio Rivers. Approved in 1992, both MPSAs were
cancelled in 2004 and reinstated in 2005. Baywatch maintains that
the reinstatement of their MPSA’s were in violation of the
Philippine Mining Act.
The National Irrigation Administration, Tandag Office who had worked
for over ten years to have these watersheds proclaimed has not been
reached for comment yet nor the 3,334 farmers who are directly
affected by these mining companies. The NIA holds water rights to
Carac-an river since the 1970s; the other rivers are sources of
water for the other community irrigation systems.
The Presidential Proclamation secures the areas’ rice production
which would be heavily impacted by the mining companies’ operations.
It is also viewed a critical move in view of the current rice
shortage in the country.
For Details, Contact:
Emma Y. Hotchkiss
Cell Phone: 0906-352-3018
Email: emmayh@yahoo.com |
