Mindanao bishops petition to cancel Tampakan mining extension

Mindanao bishops submitted a petition to the Office of the President on Wednesday, urging the cancellation of the Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) extension for the Tampakan copper-gold project.

The bishops argued that the 12-year FTAA extension granted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in 2016 is unconstitutional due to a Supreme Court ruling.

They also asserted that the agreement has lapsed and SMI should have undergone consultations, environmental impact assessments, and other regulatory compliances for renewal.