Mining is not bad in our country as long as the company who will do the mining are the real and proven international miners, equipped with knowledge, latest technology, experience and sufficient capital.

Not to be operated by fake, inexperienced, no capital companies, which is just manipulated by corrupt people aided by corrupt goverment personnel.

The people who are noisy anti-mining, are those people who doesnt know or even see what is mining. They just heard from disgusted people who have self interest and doesnt get something on the mining process. Or have heard from few mistakes on existing mining company, then generalized that it would have the same problem in all coming mining operations.

We could have a good mining operation that will benefits our country and its people, if there is a clear feasibility studies on the proposed mining project and then reviewed/checked/collaborated with our “competent” uncorruptable goverment/private technical personnel and with consultation of the local people whose areas will be affected.

Even if there is no mining, the trees that some people want to be protected, in the long run, still will be cut either with loggers or by farmers.

Although you mentioned it correct that “mining operations and economic development CAN exist side by side with environmental sustainability…’, your write up heavily concentrated on the so-called negative effects of mining. What about the benefits? What about the efforts and huge amount of money that large-scale mining put up to greatly minimize the effects of mining to the environment? Could you also share this with us, if you think there is any?

What are the effects of small-scale mining to the environment? Do you think it is better to do small scale rather than large scale mining?

Thanks

Yes, mining can be a great driver of development, if done responsibly - with the highest vigilance of the people in the communities where they operate and strong sense of corporate social responsibility of the mining companies. Otherwise, lest we forget, mining as an extractive industry can be very, very dangerous not only to the physical environment, but to humans and other living organisms (flora, fauna, water and land species, etc.).

I hope that we do not just jump into euphoria when we hear something so positive about mining, without thinking of ways on how we can protect our environment. While some people may benefit from mining operations, let us also feel for those whose lives will be displaced or disturbed. That is responsible citizenship!

As a mining engineer and with the industry for some time now, it might be said that I am pro-mines. Of course, in a way that would be true for the most part of it. But, in reality, as a person and as a Filipino citizen, I have seen more than enough to justify a mining operation. It would take a mountain of effort to put a mine operating side by side with the 3 impt. acronym, SHE (safety, health and environment). It would be a lot discussing them here, but in a nutshell, firstly, a mining operation should have passed the standards - legal, quality, safety, health, environmental, social, political, etc…We have tons of law in RP that governs it all. Moreover, standard-certifying firms are foreign-based, thus companies adhering to their standards, are also adhering to international standards, which is more stringent. They should have technical (personnel,equipment,plant,capital)know how with all the aspects. But also, the social responsibility - towards community, environment, stakeholders, etc. Mining is not a permanent land-use but only temporary, and is necessary (like farming or construction)for the survival of man.We cut trees if they are in the way of our houses or power lines, there’s no difference. Big or small damage to the environment is the same. What’s impt is the step taken towards rehabilitating such damage.We can’t deny the benefits of mining-products,commerce, trade,medicine,countryside jobs,programs,etc.It is a necessity, a necessary evil if you may. Take a look at a gun, it may be useful or can be deadly. Mining is in the hands of its operators. Given the track record and the complete documentation, its not worth stopping something that is needed by us, by our sons, daughters and the next generation.What we need to see for mining operations to do is these-SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

[...] Not Just for Profit � Mining and development vs. environmental sustainability Quote: [...]

People could talk endlessly about the effects of mining. We in Marinduque, however. have experienced it first hand. Years after Marcopper closed down due to massive tailing spillage, those responsible still have to lift its fingers to repair the damage it has caused. Many concerned people have tried their best to make those responsible rehabilitate the damage wrought but all efforts its seems comes to naught.
Mining companies (CMI & Marcopper) have long left our province but their ill effects remains for us Marinduquenos to bear. Where’s the money earned over the years? It is now with us Marinduquenos, for sure. We remain one of the poorest province in the Philippines.
Good effects: Short-term and Negligible. Bad effects: Long-term and Irreparable.

Mining operations is not bad for our country if laws and all environmental regulations and policies must be observed by miners and those who are in-charge of control and monitoring see to it that violators are punished: their licenses and permits are revoked.

In actual practice, however, laws and regulations are violated and circumvented in favor of the big chunks of money to the pockets of the miners and those who regulate them including the other “free riders” within the government.

So, the end results is irreversible destruction of our natural environment. And, can you blame those who are very noisy and against the mining operations in our country? In reality, cite any valid example of mining operations in the country where environmental protection has been preserved when the mining operation was over?

Mining is more of destruction than benefits.

For me, mining whether small or large scale is disastrous in a sense that both create ill effects to the environment, people and the natural habitat as proven in the past.

What we are experiencing or suffering today is absolutely the product of the previous acts. What I mean is the flashfloods, el nino phenomenon, global warming, typhoon, etc… which can be attributed to damaged environment because of mining, illegal logging, massive land conversion and other arbitrary negligence of our surroundings.

Yes, it is true that mining can give us some benefits but if we try to quantify the benefits vs. its effects, the latter would be heavier than the former.

We allow mining because of investment? money? or what else? how much do we gain from mining? maybe millions or even billions… but when disasters strike how much havoc will it costs to human lives, properties and the environment? maybe double or even ten times than what we earn from mining… what is worst is we leave nothing to the future generation if everything have been distroyed already.

Cases, tell us that the number one violators of the laws on mining are the known large mining firms which can afford to buy or bribe officials in their favor. They have the capacity to twist almost everything including circumventing laws in their expense… they are hard to fight or even to outdo in legal battles in case someone charge them for violations of certain environmental laws or guidelines.

The worst is in our country, most of the mining firm officials were previously connected with the government or in most cases former law makers and cabinet officials such as secretaries, undersecretaries, retired military officials and the likes who have strong connections with the government or approving officials.

Mining firms do think of the environment but think money and profits at natures expense. At the start, they comply the so called environmental compliance because it is being required, but once they already started operating, they already unmindful of it.

Mga kababayans lets think a million times before allowing these mining firms to operate. Let us think the future and the future of the future generations that will suffer/reap whatever effects of our doings.

Hi!

In Philippine setting there can be no responsible, environment-friendly mining operations. From the very beginning the process of identification of minesites is already corrupted. More so, in the course of exploration and development stage. How can we trust a government agency like MGB under DENR whose track record is nothing but environmental destruction and damage to the lives and livelihood of the people nearby the minesites. In the plhilippines, not one of those mined area could show the so called development that bring about the promised progress to the people. So, why sacrifice the livelihood of the farmers, fisherfolks and the rest in the community where mining is proposed to be done? Its all greed!

mining? let us see the effects of it… latest disaster was 13 miners were trapped in Benguet. This is what we want?

I am one of those who have been to an “open pit” nickle ore and chromite mine and I would say that mining has more long-lasting negative impact to the country than providing it benefits. It’s not really a matter of “big” or “small” mining operations but really a matter of what it does to our natural resource.

One major and most obvious detrimental impact to the country is the destruction of our land. I witnessed how our mountains were literally scraped off, just for big time corporations to take nickel ore out to be shipped to other countries. (Note that, based on my interviews with mining industry sources, for every ton of soil taken out only contain about 2%-3% of nickel ore and about 15%-20% iron ore but all of 1 ton is shipped since most of mining operations have no processing facility to just take out the minerals from the soil) — Imagine how much of the Philippine soil go out of the country and how could corporations possibly restore our mountains (unless they import soil from other countries as well).

Another devastating effect of mining operations is the effect of flood to low lying barrios/barangays. The country is visited by more than 25 storms every year; this is also possibly the same number of times people are affected by the effect of mining operations. Has anyone noticed why some areas (especially in the provinces) are now more and more becoming flood prone compared to before?

The benefits of mining operations, on the other hand, that I see are that 1) mining operations provide temporary employment to the community, 2) % of mining profits go to host government, and 3) commercial activity in the area is increased. But have we also considered how people would live after mining operations cease? Have we also considered how the profits from these operations are used by government? And, how will commerce thrive if in the future people would cease to be employed?

Now having mentioned the benefits and negative effects of mining, I find that there simply is only two ways of looking at mining. One is, if we are to look at it in the short-term, that it is beneficial to the community and will indeed bring in profits. But another is that, in the long-term, mining operations will destroy the community and will affect a greater/wider area in terms of devastation through loss of life and property.

In end, I say, I’d rather protect the future rather than earn temporary gains today.

It’s one of the upward moving businesses in the stock market. We’re the best place to do mining in the whole world, as we’ve broadcasted that we’ve got the best mining provisions and guidelines on paper.

The question is on the IMPLEMENTATION side. And yes, i think, ways and means could be justified once MONEY is the one driving the decisions.

When did it ever get followed and implemented as stated? Or maybe, some things are complied to legalistically, but never really delivers the essence of protecting the environment and its community stakeholders.

Please give us a case study, if there’s any, of a mining operations that greatly contributed towards the development of the community stakeholders.

THanks,

Redg

Arnel Says:
Sometime in the past, there was a heated debate on the no-mining law that was reversed by the Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide. And that debate come about not in the Hall of Justice but in the BLOGS: Vox Populi.

The original law then was no mining venture should be engage due to the incident wherein the Marinduque Mining Company has caused a great spill tailings along the rivers of that province. And these tailings are toxic substance like mercury, arsenic, and the likes. It spilled over the holding area, and laid waste to those rivers which finally affected the fertile fishing grounds.

There is no argument on the monetary benefits on this undertaking. But, could we use this as a focal point to justify the deleterious effects of mining? In today’s news, there is an 11.5 billion pesos insertion in the Senate which according to Senator Miriam Santiago has the possibility that these politician-Senators may use it in the 2010 presidential election.

Also, in today news, according to Transparency International, the degree of corruption intensity in our government has greatly increased.

Be that as it may, my question is who will benefit from the mining venture? Would the revenue derive from mining eventually filter to the common people? At the rate our treasury is squandered by the present administration, at the rate insertions are committed in the Legislative Branch of our government as well as the Executive, at the rate substandard projects and over pricing in the DPWH, at the rate substandard and ghost delivery is happening in our Military, at the rate the funds of Swine projects, the hybrid rice and fertilizer were embezzled, do we still go on mining? If the revenue of mining goes to the insatiable appetite of our corrupt government, is mining practical?
Sometime in the past, one participant in that debate from a far flange country of Switzerland made mention why mining venture in our country is not practical. His opinion is more of technical and down to earth. He said, “Our country has a prominent rainy season and no technology has yet been invented to prevent spillage of entrails from overflowing its holding pond.”

What happens to the Rapu Rapu in Albay is a classic example of that consequence. The toxic waste has over flowed and consequently affected the livelihood of fishermen. There was a wide spread fish killin the affected area. This incident shows that the government rhetoric’s about safe mining technique were nothing but lies!

In Pangasinan, there was also a fish kill and farms becoming unproductive. The people there don’t know what hits them. From the aerial view, you can see the effect. From the cordillera mountains where mining sites are located, large swat of land lay wasted caused by toxic entrails. River banks go on widening because it is devoid of plants which are suppose to check soil erodes.

How about our watershed? With deforestation, we sacrifice our watershed which is the source of irrigation for thousands of hectares and make our farm productive. The Pantabangan dam is an example of the effect of minimal watershed. During rainy season it overflows, and during dry season, there is but a very short service time. And on top of these, siltation or soil erosion is so intense that it will be a matter of time before the likes of Pantabangan dam, Ipo dam, and Ambuklao dam are similarly becames very inefficient.

Also, what shall we do with our Indigenous People who were displace? Jail them for begging in Metro Manila, for reason that they were deprive of their ancestral land? Remember, the numbers affected runs into hundreds of thousands. It’s good for us because we are in the comfort of our home, but for these indigenous people survival is paramount. They are at the mercy of the natural elements, hungry, destitute, and hopeless.

PGMA, in the history of our country broke all records when it comes to corruption and human rights violation. This ethnic Chinese President would go all the way to please her motherland. China is in dire need for metals, and she and Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide, another ethnic Chinese, corroborated to overturn the mining law.

The Chinese venture is practical. With close proximity to China, it is but practical in the economic point of view to get the minerals nearest source.

But, what a sacrifice to the Indigenous Filipino people and their environment. It is an insult to the ethnic Filipinos that their rights to the wealth of their country is being exploited, and more, that the revenue derive is being squandered, stolen. Nothing is left for the ethnic Filipinos but an empty bag and empty rhetoric.

We distrust our government for so many things, do we trust them to police an industry as large as this properly or will mining just be another source of kotong in the big leagues? How may towns have risen from 4th of 5th class municipalities for having hosted mining?

We have now “mining” rush” caused by the strong demand of ores from China.

As a result, some Chinese traders have corrupted our government officials from Barangay Chairman, Mayor, Provincial Mining Regulatory Board, and the Governor concerned at the expense of environment. For a few dollars more, USD10.00 per metric ton, I know a certain Governor will not sign a mining permit, then another dollar for the issuance to move the ores (Ore Transport Permit). It is now part of their fund raising campaign for the next election.

The preparation and approval of the Environmental Compliance Certificate or ECC will not move without “grease money.”

Worst, our Indigenous people never received their shares for the mining revenues as provided by law. It is gone with the wind.

Mining, basically is good for our people. But the people in the government is not good for our environment and people. It is government versus environment. Not, mining versus environment.

The “proven reserves of our ore is worth USD780B.” If we could mine this, perhaps we could bail out economy of our brothers American.

I feel my opinion is already moderated. It is the reality in the mining industry.
Thanks.

Sid Valencia