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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on October 16, 2008
Large–scale mining in Bayog approved
in spite of Subanen tribe opposition
By Carl Cesar C. Rebuta
Team Leader of Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center–
Cagayan de Oro Office
Bayog is a municipality of Zamboanga del Sur, part of Zamboanga Peninsula. Bayog is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines with a population of 26,248 people in 5,060 households.
It was in the year 1953 that large numbers of immigrants started settling permanently in this area which was then sparsely populated by the native Subanen. Thus, barrio Bayog came into existence under the municipality of Malangas. Bayog was adopted as the official name of the barrio, as this place was originally known to the natives due to the abundance of the Bayog trees in the locality.
A bright opportunities in agriculture, business and employment attracted more settlers into the area, particularly during the year 1957 and 1958. The entry of immigrants came into play when the Samar Mining Company (SAMICO) constructed the existing 42 kilometers SAMICO road from Bobuan to its wharf in Pamintayan. By 1959, Bayog was already quite big for a barrio. So another barrio was created which is now the present barangay Kahayagan. When the municipality of Buug (also a former barrio of Malangas) was created in 1960, barangay Bayog and Kahayagan were among the barrios under it.
As early as 1963, three years after the SAMICO road was completed and the company was in full–blast operation, the population of Bayog already warranted the creation of a new municipality. Thus, on November 14, 1964, Bayog started to function as a corporate municipality separate and distinct from the Municipality of Buug by virtue of Executive Order No.112 issued by the then President Diosdado Macapagal.
The continued support and cooperation of the people substantially contributed much to the rapid growth and development of the community. It was the late Congressman Vincenzo Sagun who fought for the creation of the municipality. On May 8, 1967, Republic Act No. 4872 was enacted creating Bayog as a regular municipality.
Since Bayog is an agricultural area, it is considered as the "Rice Granary of Region IX". The people of the town rely mainly on crop raising and animal husbandry as the town is situated in a wide plain watered by the Sibugay River and its tributaries. In spite of these, the town still opted to maximize the resources beneath.
The people of Bayog were also engaged in logging because of the vast forest which can be found in the area. Sometimes, Bayog was also referred as the Timbermines Country. Bayog has still about 91% of the total land area as timberland or about 27,188.00 hectares, the biggest in Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga Sur provinces.
The Subanen territory
The Subanen community lives in the area since time immemorial. Pangayamam or hunting grounds inside their territory are protected as source of their survival for generations. Balay nog Gukom/Balay nog Bogolal or the Subanen Tribal hall is strategically located inside the territory as the venue for traditional conflict resolution or decision, proclamation and resolution which may have impact to the lives of the community and to their Ancestral Domain.
Pegsalabukan Gukom de Bayog (PGB) the traditional Subanen governance in Bayog submitted their application for Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) on March 3, 2006 before the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) service center of Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur. Copies were also handed to NCIP provincial and Regional Offices of Pagadian City.
PGB application covers 20 Barangays of Bayog. The following barangays are Boboan, Honahon, Dimurihan, Canuayan, Conacon, Deporihan, part of Depore, Dimalinao, Datagan, Bantal, Matinao, Balokbahan, Digakad, Kanipaan, Sigakad, Maton–og, Baking, Kamblising, Pulang bato, Sitio Buko of Kahayagan, part of Dipili, and Liba.
Entry of Large scale mining
On October 12, 2008, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) granted a large–scale mining permit to 168 Ferrum Pacific Mining Inc., which has allotted some P500 million to bring to full operations the Zamboanga mines sites which together contain one of the biggest concentration of iron ore deposits in the country. 168 Ferrum is controlled by Mikro–tech Capital Inc., which is owned by Dr. Michael Romero who is also the chief executive officer of the country's largest and most modern port, Harbour Centre Port Terminal, Inc.
DENR Secretary Atienza stated that the 168 Ferrum Pacific mining large scale mining permit is in alignment with government initiatives to revitalize the country's mining industry. The permit for iron ore production covers 8,430 hectares in six barangays in Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur.
At stake now?
Despite the formal opposition of the Subanen community before the NCIP not to issue the Certificate of Precondition (CP) of 168 Ferrum for failure of the mining company to get the approval of the community, the mining permit was issued by DENR after two weeks from the issuance of the CP.
The voices of the community are now buried underneath the ground after the mining permit is approved. At this time, the company is set to excavate stories, culture, tradition, traditional governance and a once a peaceful community into a barren of waste.
END