COMMUNITIES of Sibuyan Island in Romblon province have criticized the government for granting a license to a Canada-based firm to mine in the island.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has granted the Canada-based Altai Resources through its Philippine subsidiary Altai Philippines Mining Corporation (APMC) a permit to mine nickel on 1,822 hectares in the island.
DENR secretary Lito Atienza signed the accord last December 23, 2009, five days before he left the post on December 28.
Anti-mining groups censured the government’s deal with the mining companies saying the agreement will destroy the island’s diverse ecosystem.
“Sibuyan folks are disgusted and annoyed with this kind of development. We were not even informed about the approval and no news whatsoever. We just knew about it when a statement was published on the internet,” said Domingo Marin, president of Sibuyanons Against Mining (SAM) a Sibuyan-based advocacy group.
Sibuyan communities got hold of news of the mining agreement January 8 this year, when it was announced in Australia by Pelican Resources Ltd., parent company of Sunshine Gold Pty., Ltd, which has a stake at Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corporation (SNPDC), a company owned by APMC.
The agreement between the government and mining company was confirmed in a letter sent by Engr. Roland de Jesus of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region IV-B to the Sibuyan Island Sentinels League for Environment Inc. (Sibuyan ISLE).
“This is a clear disrespect to Sibuyanons, the government through the DENR has proven again itself as an agent of destruction,” said Rodne Galicha, Sibuyan ISLE executive director.
Galicha lamented that the island’s environment is already being endangered because of destruction brought by natural and man-made calamities.
“There were typhoons Frank, Nina and Feria coupled with three months of food shortage brought by endosulfan scare. Pending cutting of 70,000 trees, illegal logging, illegal mining, illegal fishing, name it we have it,” he said, adding: “the DENR cannot even address these issues.”
“Now, large-scale mining? Whether pro-mining or anti-mining [we] are all victims here, we are being stabbed behind our backs,” he further said.
Marin said Atienza’s action was reminiscent of his predecessor former DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes who approved the cutting of 70,000 trees before he was transferred to the Department of Energy.
“Is this the kind of justice they want to give to my son, to my fellow Sibuyanons, to our children’s children?” Marin asked.
Marin was the father of anti-mining Sibuyan councilor Armin Rios-Marin who was killed by SNPDC security.
Anti-mining advocacy group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) also denounced the MPSA approval, saying it will imperil the livelihood and biodiversity on the island.
The island, dubbed as Galapagos of Asia by international scientists because of it rich and diverse marine ecosystem is also home to rare species of flora and fauna.
“Sibuyan island is an important bird and biodiversity area (IBA), the flora and fauna are so unique and diverse, the fact that the island has been separated from any other islands since ice-age,” said Blas Tabaranza, executive director of HARIBON, an environmental group.
Environmentalists furthered argued the island’s geographical make-up, being isolated from other islands, is not ideal for mining activity.
Ronald Gregorio, an official of Legal Rights and Natural Resources Centre-Kasama sa Kalikasan/Friends of the Earth Philippines (LRC-KsK/FoE Phils) said Sibuyan is similar to Bicol region’s Rapu-rapu island in geographical landscape.
In 2006, Rapu-rapu landed in the news when mine spill from Lafayette Mining Corporation caused massive fish kill and environmental destruction on the island and environs.
“This experience shows that small islands cannot hold the pressure of massive earth moving activities like mining,” Gregorio said, adding: “it’s like punching a hole into a floating life raft.”
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