Farmers group lashes at new minerals deal
The agreement between the Philippines and the United States to develop rare earth and critical minerals could worsen large-scale mining and lead to land conversion and displacement of indigenous communities in mineral-rich areas, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) warned on Saturday.
KMP, in a statement, expressed concern that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla signed with the US undersecretary of state for economic affairs is being packaged as a “Filipino-led industrialization, when in reality it advances US strategic and corporate interests amid intensifying global competition over critical minerals.”
During a conference in Washington, where the PH-US accord was also signed, the United States is proposing to form with allies a “preferential trade zone” to keep prices of critical minerals at bay and weather market shocks.
This agenda on mineral development is the United States’ response to boost investments in critical minerals by establishing a global supply chain. This includes silica, which is widely used in the manufacturing of cars, smartphones and artificial intelligence technologies.
The peasant group said the growing demand for minerals in these industries is “being abused to justify aggressive extraction” in agricultural lands and rural communities.
“Even if the mineral is processed within the country, if foreigners are in control, there will be no benefit to the farmers and the people,” KMP chair Danilo Ramos said in a statement.
Protests readied
“It will even have a stronger impact on the countryside because mining, land conversion and militarization will expand,” he added.
The group cited the pushback in Nueva Vizcaya, where communities in Dupax del Norte have blocked more than 3,100 hectares of agricultural and indigenous land that was granted exploration permits to foreign companies.
KMP also pointed to protests in Mankayan, Benguet, against the entry of a foreign-backed mining project.
For Lotilla, the partnership with the United States on mineral development will bring high-skilled jobs and put the Philippines on the global high-tech supply map.
“We will be able to keep more of the economic benefits of mining within the country,” the environment chief said in a statement on Friday.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, for her part, said in a separate statement on Saturday that the MOU seeks to develop the processing and value-adding capacity for our minerals to generate investments.
