1. Effects on health of rural women, their families and community Mining and irresponsible business practices have resulted in the pollution of the environment and contamination of water sources in various communities that water in some areas is no longer potable. The participants also attributed occurrences of illnesses, such as asthma, skin diseases and diarrhea, as a result of the polluted environment. Some of the women attribute the illnesses in their communities to the aerial spraying of insecticides in plantations to protect their produce (i.e. bananas), from pests. This practice of banana plantation owners affects their own workers and the surrounding communities that are reached by the aerial spray. Meanwhile, rural women working in agriculture and fisheries expressed their concern on business practices that demonstrate inadequate implementation of health and sanitation safeguards. Inadequacies include improper waste disposal from big and small livestock businesses, use of unsafe chemicals to boost the growth of livestock and use of pesticides. They are also concerned about the effects on health that genetic modification in farming may cause. Furthermore, profit-oriented businesses put preference on commercially grown food and products over organic products which are healthier to consume. The lack of appreciation and mainstreaming of the organic products that rural women produce affect their livelihood as well. 2. Effects on Livelihood The livelihood of rural women and their communities are also largely affected by development aggression. Lands and natural resources that were accessible to them became scarcer. There is less land to till and open areas for hunting of food have been reduced. Coconut farmers complained of coconut trees being cut in their areas resulting to the loss of their source of livelihood. The quality of agricultural land has also been affected resulting to low productivity of crops. To this end, the women have expressed their sentiments, viz: “Namamatay ang mga tanim.” (The crops are dying.) Those in the coastal areas have also been greatly affected. Commercialization brought about by the building of resorts resulted in a decrease among the fisherfolks’ access to aquatic resources. Fish and corals not only died due to pollution, oil spills and illegal practices, but have also affected the nutrition of coastal residents as fish is their main food. Women doing laundry work as a source of livelihood, are also affected by the pollution of the rivers and community water sources. The contamination of the water in their vicinity has rendered them unable to continue doing laundry work. 3. Issues on Security The establishment of businesses in the countryside caused the displacement of many rural women and their families. These include the indigenous people who are supposed to be protected by their rights to ancestral domain but are forced to flee their homes. Corporations are said to hire armed groups which intimidate the IPs and rural people in general from fighting for their land. There were reports that people from rural communities who tried to fight for their rights were harassed or threatened and some even went missing or were killed. Women participants said that there are deaths due to the effects of mining and justice for this has not been obtained. These are all serious and extreme consequences that should be investigated. 4