 |
You are here: Home CASES OPEN LETTERS Philippines - Mindoro Nickel Project in Oriental Mindoro threatens the right to food of rice farmers
Philippines - Mindoro Nickel Project in Oriental Mindoro threatens the right to food of rice farmers
Hon. JOSELITO ATIENZA
Secretary
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Dear Secretary,
The Foodfirst Information and Action Network (FIAN) is an international human rights organization, with an consultative status at the United Nations, working for the worldwide implementation of the human right to adequate food.
We recently received information that your office issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to Intex Resources for its Mindoro Nickel Project on October 14, 2009 but suspended the ECC temporarily for 90 days on November 18, 2009. FIAN would like to strongly urge your office to not only suspend but revoke the ECC granted to Intex Resources. The more than 9,000 hectares of concession area of Intex threatens the Aglubang and Mag-asawang Tubig watershed areas which are sources of water of four major rivers. These rivers irrigate about 50,000 hectares of rice fields in the towns of Victoria, Naujan and Calapan situated in Oriental Mindoro province. The destruction of the watersheds will have an adverse impact on the livelihood and the right to food of the rice farmers and farm workers in these areas.
As a State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Philippine government has the obligation to respect and protect the right to food of its population by guaranteeing the existing access of farmers to their rice fields. We would like to urge to you, Mr. Secretary, to revoke the ECC of Intex Resources, respect the decision of the Mindoro people banning mining in their province for 25 years, and protect the watersheds and food-producing areas of the island of Mindoro.
Please inform me of any measure you intend to take on the issue.
Sincerely Yours,
Flavio Valente
Secretary General
FIAN International
