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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on December 4, 2008
Farmers install 15–foot scarecrow to ward off mining firm
"The women, men, youth, and children assisted in the installation of a 15 feet tall scarecrow as our symbolic edifice against mining," Rizalina Lisbos, a mother of four, narrated.
The members of Anislagan Bantay Kalikasan Task Force (ABAKATAF) of barangay Anislagan, Placer, Surigao del Norte installed a scarecrow as a symbol of the community's strong staunch against mining which threatens their farm lands.
Anislagan is an agricultural community of about 400 households or roughly 2,000 individuals. Anislagan supplies potable water to the whole town of Placer and irrigates the rice fields in nearby barangays.
ABAKATAF members, who are mostly farmers, have installed the huge scarecrow since November this year.
Scarecrow is a common edifice in the rice fields of Anislagan to frighten crop destroying birds. This time, the farmers installed a huge scarecrow to ward off one of the world's largest mining companies.
Kalayaan Copper Gold Resources (KCGR) is a joint venture of Anglo–American Corporation, the world's second largest mining company, and the Manila Mining Corporation (MMC).
On March 5, 2008, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Mines and Geosciences Bureau issued an exploration permit to KCGR. The exploration permit was issued despite the absence of community consultation and the barangay council's endorsement. This exploration permit covers 286.6 hectares of barangay Anislagan.
"[We] will show to the whole world that we are against mining in our agricultural village. This is our source of livelihood in the community," Jesus Ormega, ABAKATAF President lamented.
By Carl Cesar C. Rebuta, Team Leader, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, Inc.—Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth–Philippines
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