Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga on Friday said they “will take a good look” at the opposition of a group of Sibuyan Island residents to nickel mining in that part of Romblon province.
The group had put up a human barricade to prevent trucks carrying nickel ore from exiting a pier being constructed by the Altai Philippines Mining Corporation. Police, however, dispersed the protesters.
Yulo-Loyzaga said the DENR is engaging with different stakeholders — including those in the mining sector and communities — to balance the need for minerals with environmental, social and economic considerations.
She stressed that the agency is adapting a “mitigation hierarchy” framework, comprising a sequence of steps to avoid the impacts of mining and, where avoidance is not possible, to reduce the effects of extraction activities.
The approach also includes rehabilitation of sites no longer used by a project, before offsetting residual impacts.
“[This approach] will definitely entail the consideration of the environment enhancement program that each of the mining companies need to undertake, the progressive rehabilitation program that they are going to propose, and the short-term mine planning model that they are mandated to put into consideration,” Yulo-Loyzaga said.
The secretary added that revitalizing the mining sector — even though the industry only accounts for less than one percent of the country’s gross domestic product — is a priority of the Marcos administration.
“Geographically and socially, [things are] different. So these complexities need to be addressed in whatever approach that we will take moving forward,” she said.
Violation
The Alyansa Tigil Mina is supporting residents opposed to the operations of APMC, claiming the mining firm does not have the necessary permits to operate.
ATM also claimed that the extraction of minerals is also driving deforestation and the climate crisis, threatens water sources and displaces people.
ATM said that it is not “a fair call” for the DENR secretary to listen to all sides when a mining operation is clearly violating environmental and local government laws.
The anti-mining protesters have demanded to see APMC’s barangay clearance, municipal business permit, foreshore lease contract with the DENR, and port authority permit.
“Affected communities have been waiting for DENR Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga to listen to their side, and unfortunately, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau has failed to properly enforce environmental laws,” Jaybee Garganera, the ATM National Coordinator, said.
In 2011, the DENR canceled the APMC permit to explore Sibuyan Island.