Not true - the Filipino economy (which is a basketcase in the...

Not true - the Filipino economy (which is a basketcase in the scheme of SE Asia) is very much dependent on remittances from workers abroad.

It is one of the most mineralised countries in the world, but rates by mining executives (Fraser Institute survey) in the list near Zimababwe and Venezuela for attractiveness for mining investment. I doubt any long term IRN holder would disagree with those findings.

Mining success in the Philippines is dependent on a number of factors, not least of which are; mining history of the region, scale of the operation, and provenance and identities of ownership. Perhaps SM can possibly save the day, but I believe they have at least put it on the backburner for now. Locally, respect for Tagalog speaking corporates out of Manila is not better than that for English speaking whities anyway.

Right on queue in response to my first post - in today's local paper the community consultation starts for the proposed power plant. The Church will be rallying their brainwashed herds for this one as I type. Predictably, they will argue that as the proposed power plant is purely for the mine and has very little spare capacity for the people, then it is completely unnecessary. I know that sounds illogical - but the Church never lets logic get in the way of keeping people poor, and thus dependent on indoctrination.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2011/05/25/mine-firm-vows-address-communitys-concerns-157533

Forget about President Noynoy coming to the aid of Tampakan. He was a populist choice after his mother's death, who has since exposed himself as an incompetant baffoon. Besides, he can't exert real control. The hinterlands of South Cotabato province are a war zone fought between a mixture of private clan militias, NPA (communists), MILF (not the porn variety, but Muslims), with the long-suffering Armed Forces of the Philippines left to hunker down in outposts receiving pot shots and raids week in week out.

It would be great to see a progressive mining industry develop in the Philippines and I'd be very happy to see Tampakan go ahead, but it needs to be done peacefully. There has already been a lot of blood spilt because of this development and it would be naive to think there won't be a lot more spilt until, and if, the antagonists finally get their way. At when, and if, that point comes Tampakan will become just another project consigned to the basket of "don't bother" deposits of the Philippines.