The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) reiterated its call for the scrapping of the vicious Philippine Mining Act of 1995 that intensified the intrusion of foreign mining companies in ancestral lands. (From l-r) Santos Mero, deputy secretary general (CPA); Franklin Almoza, IPMR Itogon; Jose Sapino, Pacda Neighborhood Organization; and Vicente Dilem of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Cordillera showed strong support to DENR Secretary Gina Lopez in her decision on 23 mines, suspension of five mines including the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company, Acupan Mines of Benguet Corp and Oceana Gold in Nueva Vizcaya and cancelation of 75 Mineral Production Sharing Agreement including five MPSA in Benguet and Abra.
Maigting ang naging suporta ng Cordillera Peoples Alliance sa desisyon ni Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez ukol sa pagsasarado ng 23 malalaking minahan dahil sa masamang dulot ng maling pagmimina. Sa isinagawang press conference ng CPA kamakailan ay inihayag din ang pagnanais nilang ibasura ang Philippine Mining Act of 1995 na nagpalala sa panghihimasok ng mga foreign mining companies sa bansa. Pinangunahan ni CPA deputy secretary general Santos Mero ang pagtalakay sa naturang batas. Aniya, ito ay nagsasaad ng maling patakaran na nagdudulot ng unti-unting pagkasira ng mga lupain at kayaman ng Pilipinas dahil sa mga malalaking kompanya ng minahan.