Bishop Leopoldo Corpuz Jaucian, S.V.D., of the Diocese of Bangued in the province of Abra, northern Philippines, has issued a strong pastoral statement condemning the threat of large-scale mining in Licuan-Baay.
The operations of Yamang Mineral Corporation, pursued without the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of indigenous peoples, violate both due process and human dignity, the statement warned.
Mining in the area endangers the Malanas and Baay Rivers, which flow into the Abra River, the lifeline of many municipalities. “What harms one part of Abra harms us all,” the statement declared.
Citing St. John Paul II and the Supreme Court ruling in Oposa v. Factoran, the Diocese emphasized that every generation bears the moral and legal duty to safeguard the environment. “Large-scale mining devastates the land, poisons our waters, and destroys livelihoods. Its damage cannot be undone.”
The Diocese called on all people of faith, local communities, and government agencies to stand firm in protecting creation. “Let us choose life, justice, and stewardship. Together, we can preserve Abra as a vibrant witness to the beauty of God’s creation.”
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