The CSO Advocacy for a

New Mining Law in the

Philippines
Poster Presentation:
New Challenges and Increasing Pressures in
Customary Land Rights in Southeast Asia
Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) – Alliance Against Mining
General Assumptions:
Policy of Liberalizing the Mining Industry
1. Optimize extraction –new and improved technology,
high capital input
2. Capture capital – need to attract foreign investors
3. Local mining industry must capture the world
market
4. Foreign market=dependent on foreign capital
Challenging the myths of mining in the Philippines

Shifting mindsets and popular consciousness:

 The Philippine Mining Act is flawed (undermining national sovereignty,

sell-out of national patrimony and unmasking the disincentives)
 Mining as it is currently being undertaken cannot contribute to
economic, social, cultural, moral nation-building of the Philippine nation
 Mining is not imperative for national Philippine development
 Good governance and local investments should be prioritized before
foreign dependent investments
 Environmental protection is not secured.
Dapitan initiative
 Advocates from all over the country
gathered on October 11, 2002 at the Rizal
Shrine, Dapitan City in Mindanao to sign a
manifesto which is what is known now as
the “Dapitan Initiative”
 It goes beyond merely opposing certain
mining activities but strives to provide clear
alternatives.
 Generate suggestions from communities
on what the new framework for mining
should be in the Philippines
Dapitan
Declaration
(2002)
Alternative Vision
Methodology
Drafting
 At least 10 revisions of the law;
 Comparison with the past mining laws;
 Table research;
 Comparison with other relevant laws;
 Comparison with international standards and
protocols;
 Referred to other mining laws of other countries.
 Advocacy goals
for the Alternative Mining Bill



∀ To raise public awareness and understanding on
mining and the negative impacts of the mining and
current national policy on mining

∀ To generate the “critical mass” needed to pass the

Alternative Mining Bill (AMB)

• To generate resources to mobilize campaign


activities
“A” Frame for Advocacy

3
Mobilization

2 4
Strategy Action

Continuity
1 6 5
Analysis Evaluation
In Summary:
1. We agreed on a framework (Dapitan Declaration) for a
new mining law (2002)
2. We expanded and specified the framework into a set of
principles (2002-2005)
3. These principles were translated into specific
provisions, producing a “model law” (2006)
4. The draft model law was subjected to many, many,
many consultations (2007)
5. We talked with “friendly” legislators, so they will file and
support it in Philippine Congress (2008)
6. We discussed and approved an advocacy plan