TNCs' tactics: a multiple case study on the violation of Indigenous Peoples' free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) by mining transnational corporations (TNCs)

Abstract

Philippine experience asserts that the indigenous peoples' free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) as mandated by the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) is manipulated or railroaded by mining transnational corporations. This research aims to determine the strategies and tactics employed by mining TNCs in order to attain the "consent" of indigenous communities for their corporation's operations on ancestral lands. Hence, the multiple case study method was used in order to determine the patterns, similarities and differences in the tactics that TNCs employ in different indigenous communities. The study specifically looked into three cases: 1) Didipio Copper-Gold Project in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya; 2) Mindoro Nickel Project in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro; and 3) Rapu-Rapu Polumetallic Project in Rapu-Rapu, Albay. The research drew conclusion from review of literature and analysis of indigenous peoples' narratives from documentaries by indigenous peoples' advocacy groups. The author used the theory of imperialism and dependency theory and world systems theory to analyze these findings.