Manila (AsiaNews) – Northern Luzon Bishops are calling on local communities to oppose any government attempt to revitalise large-scale mining in the area because of its inherent risks to the local ecology and indigenous population.

In a three-page official statement, the prelates, including the vice-chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Archbishop Oscar Cruz, reiterated their opposition to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's decision to encourage foreign investments in the mining sector as laid out in the 1995 Mining Act.  According to them, government mining policy will "only bring short-term gains in exchange for long-term environmental damages".

The Catholic religious leaders urged local communities to remain united and vigilant against such projects that "threaten the strategic sources of livelihood for present and future generations".

"We, the bishops of northern Luzon, come in unity to speak our mind and heart in support of our flock in light of the revitalization of mining in the Philippines. We strongly say no to large-scale mining," the three-page statement said.

Currently, seven big gold and copper mining projects are being expanded or developed in northern Luzon; among them: the Didipio copper-gold project in Nueva Vizcaya; the Teresa gold project by Lepanto Consolidated and the Pacdal copper expansion project by Philex Mines in Benguet; the government-owned Batong-Buhay copper-gold project in Ralinga and the Itogon gold project.

Back in February, Mgr Fernando Capalla, chairman of the CBCP, had already called on President Arroyo "to consider the ecological and social costs of economic development".

In another report, the Episcopal Commissions on Justice and Peace and Indigenous Populations highlighted the illegal acts and abuses that mining wrought on indigenous tribes and the environment.

The Catholic Church has always said that most mining deposits are found in areas inhabited by indigenous people like Luzon Island's central cordillera, and that unscrupulous operations can cause "social tensions".