Galapagos of Asia at Risk Because of Nickel Mining

Residents of Sibuyan Island in Romblon are asking for a pause of mining exploratory activities there because they believe that nickel mining will ruin the "Galapagos of Asia."

They claim that the extraction of nickel ore will harm the island's intact ecosystems and local livelihoods.

The island, which is home to distinctive flora and fauna, is mined by Altai Philippines Mining Corporation (APMC), according to a request by Sibuyanons to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The Galapagos of Asia

Because Sibuyan Island is apart from the Philippine archipelago, it has been dubbed the "Galapagos of Asia." Galápagos, a group of volcanic islands 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, is renowned for a variety of rare plants and creatures that can only be found there.

Elizabeth Ibaeñz, coordinator of Sibuyanons Against Mining, says, "We are witnessing that our island is being destroyed, but no one is responding. There is still no meaningful action being taken by the concerned government institutions."

The majority of Sibuyan Island residents, particularly in the Barangays Espaa and Taclobo [in the municipality of San Fernando], oppose the mining because it will harm the environment and their way of life, she continued.

Barangays Espaa and Taclobo will be the site of the Gatchalian-led APMC's proposed project. According to the project description for scoping, both villages will hold mine pits and support structures such as causeways, stockyards or pieryards, trash dumps, and settling ponds.

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Posing a Dangerous Risk

Ibañez claims that the project's proposed locations are "extremely prone" to landslides.

To halt APMC's mining exploratory efforts, Sibuyan Island residents built a barricade in front of the pier that the company was building.

According to Ibañez, the locals want the mining corporation to show proof of barangay clearance, a municipal business permit, a DENR foreshore lease contract, and a Philippine Ports Authority license to build a private port. She insisted that the company was unable to submit these records.

Environmentalist Rodne Galicha of Sibuyan, who serves as the organization's executive director, reported on the arrival of a bulk carrier reportedly carrying 50,000 metric tons of nickel ore last week. Ibañez said that the hauling activities would harm the fish spawning grounds.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau MIMAROPA Regional Director Glenn Marcelo Noble wrote to Philstar.com that APMC has received a mineral ore export license "for bulk testing purposes per its approved exploration work schedule."

To perform the required metallurgical investigation, the mining business under its MPSA requested the MOEP "to send out [its] sample ore to a reliable direct shipping ore pyro-plant and testing company."

The authority to mine inside the contract area was granted to APMC via a mineral production sharing agreement signed in December 2009 by Lito Atienza, who was then in charge of the environment.

According to Noble, environmental issues must be handled through the performance bond, the approved environmental work program, and oversight by this agency.

Important Resolution

On January 19, a public scoping exercise was carried out. In connection with APMC's request for an environmental compliance certificate, the action is a requirement of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System.

A combined resolution "strongly rejecting metallic large-scale mining in Sibuyan Island" was already adopted in June by the town councils of San Fernando, Cajidiocan, and Magdiwang in Romblon.

Additionally, they urged Congress and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to renounce industrial-scale metallic mining on Sibuyan island.

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