In the Philippines, the construction of highways in the forests, carried out by mining companies, has caused terrible deforesting and erosion of the land, which undermines the sources for sustainment of the indigenous communities as well as for the small peasants.

World - Asia

Wednesday, December, 29, 2010 at 1:17 P.M.

Source: Servindi

Dec 28/2010.Besides that, the indigenous lands which are in organic re-composition (fallow), essential for the traditional “slash and burn” agriculture, as well as the areas of supply of not wood forest products, are converted into palm plantations.

This situation has had significant impact with the indigenous and rural communities, which depend on the natural resources and the collecting of vegetable material for feeding, home building, and medicines.

In some counties in the Province of Palawan, the palm plantations are already in competition and devastating cultivated areas which are destined to self consume.

Since 2004, when the political process of Mining Revitalization in the Philippines started, concessions were granted to mining companies in the last warm points of bio diversity, including the ones qualified as restricted zones and of maximum protection, previously protected by Law

In view of this, the population has informed President Benigno Aquino of this situation, but so far they have had no response from the President.

In much the same way, indigenous organizations from several NGOs have required from the Philippines Government that it stops the expansion of palm plantations, as well as the construction of highways for the mining companies, and also, that the grants that threaten the reserves of water, forests, and communities be cancelled.

Another request is that the Executive Decree 270 be revoked, decree which has allowed all this industrial activity in zones of high ecological value from which the population also depends on for its survival.