Ayta Magbukun Communities File Petition with NCIP and CHR Over Mining Activities in Mount Pantingan
BATAAN, PHILIPPINES – Ayta Magbukun communities from different parts of Bataan have submitted a collective petition to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), seeking government action over mining exploration activities in Mount Pantingan.
The petition raises concerns over the exploration activities of Benguet Corporation and Balanga Bataan Mineral Corporation (BBMC-BC), which the communities say affect their ancestral domain and were pursued without the proper completion of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process.
The petition was signed by members of five Ayta Magbukun communities: Saysain, Bagac; Upper Biaan, Mariveles; Kinaragan and Aryada, Limay; and Bayan-Bayanan, Orion, Bataan.
Concerns Over the FPIC Process
In their petition, the communities recounted their participation in three FPIC assemblies held in September 2024 concerning the proposed renewal of the mining exploration. They raised questions about the project and requested important documents, including the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Program of Works.
According to the communities, they were expecting another assembly to address their questions and clarify the information they had requested. However, the meeting did not push through.
They subsequently learned that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) had approved the renewal of the exploration on September 23, 2024, while the FPIC process was reportedly still ongoing.
This prompted the communities to question the approval and raise concerns about whether their rights under the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) had been properly observed.
Why the Communities Oppose Mining in Mount Pantingan
For the Ayta Magbukun communities, Mount Pantingan is an important part of their ancestral territory. It provides natural resources that support their daily needs and livelihood, including water, forest products, and medicinal plants. It is also connected to their cultural practices and identity as Indigenous Peoples.
The communities are concerned that mining activities could affect these resources and cause lasting damage to their ancestral land.
What the Communities Are Asking the Government to Do
In their petition, the communities are asking the NCIP to:
Immediately stop the mining exploration activities of Benguet Corporation and BBMC-BC in Mount Pantingan.
Investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the approval of the exploration renewal despite the concerns raised over the FPIC process.
Cancel the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) covering their ancestral domain, based on the grounds presented in their petition.
They are also seeking the assistance of the CHR in addressing the human rights concerns raised by the affected communities.
Continuing the Fight for Their Ancestral Domain
The filing of the petition is part of the continuing efforts of the Ayta Magbukun communities to defend their ancestral domain and assert their rights under IPRA.
Their collective action also comes as the country marks the 29th anniversary of the enactment of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997.
For the communities, the issue goes beyond the proposed mining activities. It concerns their right to participate in decisions affecting their ancestral land and to have their consent respected in accordance with the law.
The communities are calling on the NCIP and CHR to give their petition serious attention and take appropriate action on the concerns they have raised.
The Ayta Magbukun communities continue to call for respect for their ancestral domain and the protection of their rights over Mount Pantingan.
