Five members namely, HSPFI, GROUP, KAANIB, MASSPECC and TOUCH of the Northern Mindanao Cluster of PhilDHRRA Mindanao participated in the recently conducted advocacy forum on anti-mining held at Searsolin on October 23-24, 2008. The activity was a highlight of the celebration of “Integrity of Creation Solidarity Week” in celebration of the Indigenous Peoples Month this October.

A photo exhibit on Mining started the conference at SM City-CDO on the 22nd of October. The forum was successful in gathering host communities of mining, research institutions and civil society advocates for a collaborative engagement and critical analysis of mining issues.  On one hand, it has provided venue for partners to share and consolidate experiences and lessons learned in addressing the issues of mining in their respective areas.

The activity also provided an opportunity among stakeholders to review existing laws and policies on the environment as one of the highlighted calls during the recently concluded Second National Rural Congress by the CBCP. The call for concern and action in this regard has been reinforced by the challenges raised by the IPs, upland rural communities and other sectors within the sites of struggles. In solidarity to the affected communities, said forum has contributed to the strengthening of mining  advocacy that would eventually  address required policy change and be able to do more appropriate and relevant intervention for the affected communities and areas in Mindanao. The passage of mining moratorium in some municipalities and provinces will prove to be an additional strong basis of effective interventions as this represents another arena of struggle complementing the efforts of the community, people’s organizations and other support groups. 

One of the highlights of the activity was the initiated “solidarity walk” within the metropolitan of Cagayan de Oro headed by the three Mindanao Bishops present in the forum. The walk has contributed in reinforcing its advocacy and call for wider public support on “No to mining”.  The walk ended with a concert at Gaston Park with invited local bands and environmental advocates sharing their environmental songs and ritual presentations.

The activity was managed and organized by the by the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro headed by Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J., D.D., in partnership with the Philippine Misereor Partnership (PMP)-Mindanao, Legal Rights and Natural Resource Center-CDO, PMP Cabustam cluster -Mindanao, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.