The Case Against Mining

     It’s no secret that the Philippines is extremely rich when it comes to natural resources. Our land is littered with minerals such as nickel, coal, gypsum, sulfur, silver. Sound good? Well, our country also has the fifth largest stock of gold and copper in the whole world. In fact, according to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Philippines have a total of 840 billion US dollars worth of untouched minerals.

            I know what you’re thinking. If we’re so rich, why, then, is our country correctly  perceived as one of the poorest third world countries in the globe?

            Well, technically, as stated before, we are rich in natural resources. But some people have a problem with mining. It is extremely dangerous, and while most of our wealth could be uncovered by mining, many people have declared that mining won’t do anything to help our economy –– in fact, the Philippines may be better off without it.

            Considering we have one of the world’s biggest gold and copper reserves, the Philippines doesn’t have much trouble attracting foreign investors and mining corporations. Uno problemo is, mining exposes risk not only to the environment but also to the community –– proof would be the countless accidents that have happened because of perilous mining operations.

            Take, for example, the Philex Mining in Libay. Rice fields and houses, among other things, were destroyed by the mud slides between 1999 and 2002. The mud spread 200 meters out to sea, causing the demise of fish, shellfish, mangroves, and corals. Mercury levels were about 400 times higher than usual. Needless to say, people were afraid to buy fish, affecting the fishery commerce. 70 percent of Filipinos’ count on fishing and agriculture for survival.

            Miners as subjected to numerous health vulnerabilities, as they are exposed to: dust; vibration, which can cause permanent damage to bones. Gangrene in the hands and fingers can be caused by the vibration syndrome, also known as ‘dead finger’ syndrome. Vibration may also trigger problems with the digestive system because of the continuous shaking of the internal organs; extreme heat, and considering sources of hydration may be limited when in the process of mining, this can lead to severe dehydration; inhalation of fumes produced by machineries used; absorption of manganese, lead, cadmium, and other noxious materials. They also have limited exposure to air and are susceptible to repetitive stress injury (RSI), back pains due to manual lifting, and hearing impairment caused by noise and/or other hazardous sounds.

            Sodium cyanide is used to leech gold from ores. Cyanide is an extremely poisonous salt of hydrocyanic acid and it blocks the movement from the blood to the body tissues. This is also fatal. Mercury, another toxic element, is also used frequently to generate gold-amalgam.

            People also lose their homes and their lands because of mining. Said Aquino Q. Pimentel Jr. regarding the indigenous peoples being removed from their homes due to mining:

“Also since the Marcos years, I have denounced and will continue to denounce the use of force - how mainly through the civilian paramilitary units - to compel tribal groups that oppose the entry into their ancestral domains of mining and logging interests without engaging them in honest to goodness consultations. No country claiming to be democratic should allow that to happen within its territory.”

            All these predicaments related to mining can make a person wonder if it can truly be helpful to our economy. In his World Bank Extractive Industries Review (2004), Dr. Emil Salim of the UK Financial Times said:

“Not only have the oil, gas and mining industries not helped the poorest people in developing countries, they have often made them worse off. Scores of recent academic studies and many of the bank's own studies confirmed our findings that countries which rely primarily on extractive industries tend to have higher levels of poverty, child morbidity and mortality, civil war, corruption and totalitarianism than those with more diversified economies.”

            So . . . how can mining help our flailing economy if it 1) expose workers to fatalities 2) pollute rivers near their sites 3) damage mangroves 4) obliterate coral reefs and, to top it all of, 5) forcibly throw out locals from mining sites (which, by the way, is a total violation of human rights)?

            It doesn’t. We can attribute this to the fact that whatever cash we get out of foreign investors and mining companies drilling holes in our ground goes straight into our “leaders’” pockets, leaving none for the starving, suffering Filipino.

References:

·         MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES: BANE OR BOON. 2011. MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES: BANE OR BOON. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nenepimentel.org/speeches/20071126_Mining.asp. [Accessed 27 May 2011]

·         Philippines . 2011. Philippines . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2794.htm. [Accessed 27 May 2011]

·         Mining in the Philippines and the effects on Occupational Health and Safety of Mine Workers* | IOHSAD. 2011. Mining in the Philippines and the effects on Occupational Health and Safety of Mine Workers* | IOHSAD. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.iohsad.org/11/06/mining/mining-philippines-and-effects-occupational-health-and-safety-mine-workers*. [Accessed 27 May 2011]

·         Mining in the Philippines - Concerns and Conflicts. 2011. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.envirosecurity.org/sustainability/presentations/Wicks.pdf. [Accessed 27 May 2011]



The Adverse Impact of Mining Operations in the Philippines

The Philippine government has approved the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 which grants the opening of mining operations in both public and private lands; that also includes the timber or forestlands.  This law also has provision that  any interested miner or investor may apply for the Exploration Permit (EP), the mineral contact and the Technical  and financial assistance agreement with the Philippine government if there is a mineral deposit found in the area that has a high commercial value.  This mineral agreement with the government permits any contractor to conduct mining activities within a period of twenty five years.  And, still can be renewed by the mining contractors.  Moreover, there are three kinds of mineral agreement with the government. First is the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) that permits the contractor to have the right to any mineral resources as long as he will provide for the financing of the implementation of the agreement in terms of technological mechanism, management and supervision of the mining workers in the site. Second is the co-production accord that states that the government has to contribute to the financial resources for the implementation of the contract.  Third is the joint venture agreement that requires the government to organize a business partnership in which both the government and the contractor have equal sharing.  Aside from that, it is provided that the mining contractor must be either a Filipino citizen or a corporation that has 60 percent Filipino ownership.

(http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=2230)

However, home-grown communities along with the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are being concerned with the legality of these mining operations in the country.  Many Filipino people have been questioning the implementing rules and regulations that allow foreign companies to have total control in the mining operations as well as the natural resources in the country.  I am among those people who are wondering why our government allows this thing to happen in our environment.  Although, I know that the government and the foreign investments give many advantages to the government in terms of different tax revenues every year.  But the problem is the mining activities are destroying our country’s natural resources which are the main resources of basic food and daily needs of millions of ordinary Filipino people in the provinces.  Aside from that, the mining operations reportedly caused many deaths and serious working incidents in the site.  There is a great number of Filipino miners who met tragic incidents while working for different mining contractors in various provinces. This is  due to  lack of sources of income that led many men in the provinces to  join in these kind of  mineral hunting that takes longer years in looking for any valuable mineral that can be sold in the international market. 

(http://mindoropost.com/2011/03/04/mining-act-caused-corruption-conflicts-killings%E2%80%94groups/)

The significant effect of mining operations is very large among the indigenous people.  Most lands in the provincial area are owned by ancestral families.  And many stories have been reported that the Philippine Mining Act led to the mining operations even closer to   the ancestral lands without any permission from the land owners.  That is why many questions and doubts from many indigenous communities if there is any legality of these mining operations.  Because they believe that they have the right on their own lands; to reject any actions and conditions that may greatly affect their everyday living as Filipino citizens.    They still have the right to approve or not approve any mining application in their communities.  And, if the condition causes them any inconvenience and deprivation from their normal way of life as well as if the mining application can affect adversely to their sources of income. 

(http://mindoropost.com/2011/03/04/mining-act-caused-corruption-conflicts-killings%E2%80%94groups/)

Many foreign investors are convincing the people to sell to them their lands for mining purposes.  And since, the people are so attracted with the offer.  Some of them grab it without thinking that they will later suffer the consequences of selling their lands and properties.  More than that, there are many environmental groups which deeply concern on the entire effects of massive mining operations to the environment as a whole.  In this connection, there are many calamities and disasters that happened recently; and many environmentalists strongly stressed that these disastrous happenings caused by various mining activities.  Aside from the enumerated facts and findings about the awful effects of mining operation; it even gives way to graft and corruption to many government officials.  There is billion of dollars financial agreement that involves in this kind of mining business with foreign contractors; and  various officials in the government have all the options to take in order to give way this kind of operations in our land.  Besides, there are tragic incidents that have been reported; conflicts in mining communities, with their mining workers, with the ancestral land owners and the worst thing is the extrajudicial killings.    

(http://mindoropost.com/2011/03/04/mining-act-caused-corruption-conflicts-killings%E2%80%94groups/)

I therefore suggest the thorough review of the Philippine Mining Act; because it seems that it does not provide any protection for our environment as well as to the human rights of the people. 

References:

(http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=2230)

(http://mindoropost.com/2011/03/04/mining-act-caused-corruption-conflicts-killings%E2%80%94groups/)

If Mining Works For Chile, Why Can't it Work For Us

Being a beneficiary of mining myself, I join the group of Filipinos who believe that mining can seriously help uplift the poverty in our country.  One case study we can follow is that of Chile, whose mining industry has helped the country produce a burgeoning middle class - giving the country's economy a chance to grow.  Of course, the country has had its share of mining mishaps, the more recent was last year's recovery of trapped miners, but that hasn't deterred the country from continuing the mining operations in the country and the people don't see it as the enemy but as an ally.

I do hope we can also look at mining the same way Chile sees it.  The important thing there is that the profits of mining stays with us and does not largely go to the foreign companies who operate them. I am glad that Manny Pangilinan is backing this industry, knowing fully well how way ahead of the curve he is.  I am sure, he himself has studied this industry before putting his money in it.

I strongly believe that mining can be done without much hazard to the environment.  I remember doing a research study, as a Grade 7 student in Andres Soriano Memorial School - De La Salle, using mining tailings for construction materials.  That is one way of using the mining waste as something productive!

I guess the fear of our fellowmen lie mostly in the corruption of our Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the local governments that would lay host to these mining companies.  The people who are usually beholden to serve us, normally turn a blind eye when mining mishaps occur - that's why mining has been given such a bad rap.  

A Second Chance for the Mining Industry in the Philippines

          The Philippines is so rich in natural resources that mining industry in the country could have been our cutting edge all over other countries in the world. However, it seems that this part of the industry has been used and abused by some irresponsible operation such that instead of it gearing towards the top, the industry have nowhere to go but down as in the past series of events.  Likewise, sentiments for anti-mining campaign persist because of all that has been happening.  And we cannot blame them.

          We have so much to offer to the world market.  We are among the largest producer of metallic products as gold, copper, chromium and nickel, the latter being one of our major export earner.

          Sadly though, its production and subsequent export alone does not constitute success to this industry.  There is just more than one major setback.  The decades-old problem such as illegal small-scale mining; combating graft and corruption beseeching the industry as well as the institution of reforms are just some of them and perhaps more.  These are in fact aside from the natural calamities as typhoons, earthquakes and power shortage.

             The most quite alarming to my mind perhaps as regards to the mining industry of this country is an international report that details about 800 abandoned mining sites in the Philippines that pose great risk not only to the environment but more so to human lives.  Perhaps this should not have been happening had we have stricter laws as regards to the industry.  Sadly, this country is so loose in terms of implementing laws, so much so that to some it is so easy to break a law even to the point of sacrificing human lives.  It is a reputation we have been carrying for so long now.

            The current leadership as in all other leadership in the past has its own set of program and a priority as far as the mining industry is concerned.  We could only hope that the current leadership has better to offer than his predecessor.

             Take for instance the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.  I see it as an act that surpasses any other act pertaining to the mining industry. It addresses among other things stable sustainable mining; environmental consciousness and the respect for the rights of indigenous people. Yes, better mining law such as this one is exactly what is necessary, one that is toughened and could be comparable to other countries in the world.  The act addresses the potential dangers to economic and social growth. Maybe it’s never too late if we, Filipinos should put our acts together. One fact is obviously apparent, our natural resources are disappearing, and our government has to act now.

           It is admirable that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) accentuated the significance of the full implementation of the law as its priority.

With its full implementation, the exploitation of the potentially rich mineral resources is being safeguarded by this. I am for the law.  It provides incentives to ensure economic viability of the mining industry. It also aims for domestic company to rebuild its competitiveness by allowing them to obtain a permit to conduct exploration for a certain period of years in a specific area.  While the code promotes mining industry here to international market, it likewise promotes production sharing with domestic and small scale mining industry, co-production, joint venture, financial-technical assistance with a duration of up to 50 years.

A report from DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau dated May 24, 2011 showed a 41% increase growth in production value in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the 39% growth rate of the same period of the prior year.  This upbeat performance was due to the impressive levels of metal prices in the world market coupled with the country’s mine output particularly from  gold, copper and zinc.

Looking forward for another chance for the mining industry in the Philippines.

 Preliminary data showed that the metallic sector jumpstarts the Philippine minerals industry with a strong 41% growth in production value from PhP20.74 billion in Q1 2010 to PhP29.20 billion in 1st Quarter (Q1) 2011, a PhP8.46 billion increase. This record surpassed its 2010 year-end feat of 39% growth rate. The major drivers for the upbeat performance were the impressive levels of metal prices in the world market and the growing mine output of the country’s mines, particularly from the gold, eecopper and zinc sub-sectors.

In Support of Mining

I am a beneficiary of the earnings from a mining company.  If not from the benefactor of Atlas Mining, I wouldn't have had access to a La Salle education and we might not have had an idyllic childhood in a beautiful place up, up there in the mountains of Cebu.  I am writing this because I have heard of the signature campaign of a group headed by Ms. Gina Lopez that wants to gather ten million signatures against mining.  Well, there have been many environmental incidents which abusive mining companies have caused but there are laws now in place and implementation is important.  We have the DENR and we have the media so people are now definitely watching.  Mining is really a viable economic activity and should stem the continued exodus of our fellowmen.  It should also, in the end, help the communities they are in.  There should be a win-win situation for all and not make mining a culprit to all the ills in our society.