A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 975 INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE CONGRESSMAN FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO OF THE 1ST DISTRICT OF SORSOGON, DIRECTING THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, INTO THE MINING ACTIVITIES BEING CONDUCTED IN THE ISLAND MUNICIPALITY OF RAPU-RAPU, ALBAY.

WHEREAS, the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) V, a private sector led council, organized a Committee on Environment and Sustainable Agriculture to help promote environmental protection and rehabilitation which are absolutely indispensable for sustainable agriculture;

WHEREAS, during the meeting of March 5, 2003, one of the agenda discussed was an Update on the Lafayette Mining Operation in Rapu-Rapu, Albay and it was reported that based on a study conducted by Ateneo de Naga University, it was recommended that mining should not be conducted in Rapu-Rapu Island because such would have deleterious effects not only on the environment but also to the health of residents of the community and nearby provinces;

WHEREAS, Rapu-Rapu is also within the marine conservation priority areas and was pronounced by DENR in 1997 to be an "extremely high priority area" for reef fishes, whale shark and dugongs (sea cows);

WHEREAS, notwithstanding such declaration, a permit to mine and an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) was granted by DENR to Lafayette Phils., Inc. for the exploration, development and use of metals and minerals in the island of Rapu-Rapu, Albay;

WHEREAS, the council was informed by a representative of ENR V that the regional office was not involved in evaluating the environment impact assessment of Lafayette, Philippines, Inc., but instead the evaluators were from the central office of DENR;

WHEREAS, stakeholders from nearby province of Sorsogon home of the world famous and protected whale shark or "butanding" whose environment may be affected by the mining operation, were not consulted during the public hearings/deliberations when the mining company applied for its permit;

WHEREAS, the Honorable Congressman Francis G. Escudero of the First District of Sorsogon has filed House Resolution No. 975 directing the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into the mining operation of Lafayette, Philippines, Inc.

WHEREAS, such move of the Honorable Congressman is laudable, timely and proper because of the growing concern for the potential risk that the mining operation pose not only to the environment but to the health of the people as well;

WHEREFORE, on motion of PAFC Chair, Ramon A. Diño unanimously seconded by the body;

BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY DONE, to express strong support to the initiative of the Honorable Congressman in the interest of the Agricultural and fishery sector whose livelihood and health could be greatly affected by the indiscreet and anomalous issuance of permit and ECC to Lafayette Mining absent consultation with affected stakeholders,

RESOLVED FURTHER that copies of this resolution be furnished to the Honorable Congressman Francis G. Escudero, Agriculture Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo, Jr., Chairman of the House of Representative Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Honorable Congressman Eduardo K. Veloso, DENR Secretary, Elisia G. Gozon., NAFC Executive Director Maridel Trinidad Dizon, DA RFU V Regional Executive Director Fe D. Laysa, DENR V Regional Director Oscar M. Hamada and Chairman of RAFC Environment Committee Mr. Ramon A. Diño for their information and appropriate action.

APPROVED this 5th day of March 2003.
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I HEREBY CERTIFY to the correctness of the foregoing resolution.

IMELDA P. ACOMPAÑADO
RAFC Coordinator

ATTESTED:

DAVID Z. CANET
Chairman