October 5, 2011

OPEN LETTER TO THE MAYOR OF LIBERTAD AND MEMBERS OF SANGGUNIANG BAYAN

Dear Honorable Mayor Raymundo and Honorable members of the SB,

Pandan Antique Foundation Inc. (PAF) in California and all the Antiquenos abroad are rallying behind the ranks of protesters who oppose the planned mining operations on the Northwest Panay Peninsula especially in Pandan and Libertad, province of Antique in Western Visayas in the Philippines. We are outraged and vehemently opposed to the planned mining operations in the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park in Western Visayas. We are aware that Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park has been established and is protected by NIPA as declared by former President Arroyo in 2002 under Proclamation No. 186. The DNR has been tasked to safeguard our environment.

The well-known catastrophic impact of ore/metal mining on the environment and the serious health vulnerability they create to the residents of Pandan and Libertad, particularly the barangays of San Roque, Patria, Duyong, Tingib, and Mag-aba are our primary concern. Contaminations resulting from leakage of chemicals are risk of adverse health effects and land and water resource degradation that can last for years or even decades.

The “responsible mining” a guide to standards, albeit, being promised by mining companies and corporations are notorious to be not being implemented according to Philippine reports. With due respect to you Mr. Mayor and members of the SB, the approved applications in Libertad as well as pending ones must be aborted. We stand rock-solid and unyielding in our stance against the mining operations.

We have made our mission to help improve the lives and well being of those in the towns of Pandan and Libertad. We are vigilant in preserving environment and natural resources.

We are also asking the neighboring towns in Aklan and the province of Antique to stand up and voice their opposition to this planned mining in our beloved town of Pandan and Libertad. Let us unite to protect our threatened environment and health of the people. Because of this, we strongly oppose the plan. NO TO THE MINING IN PANDAN AND LIBERTAD!

SIGNED:

CESAR D. CANDARI, MD FCAP EMERITUS
Chairman Pandan Antique Foundation, Inc.