Asian Galapagos at risk from nickel mining

Residents of Sibuyan Island in Romblon are calling for a pause in mineral exploration activities because they believe nickel mining will ruin the “Galapagos of Asia.”

They claim that mining for nickel ore will harm the island’s intact ecosystems and local livelihoods.

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

The Galapagos of Asia

Because the island of Sibuyan is separate from the Philippine archipelago, it has been nicknamed the “Galapagos of Asia.” Galapagos, a group of volcanic islands 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, is famous 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 our island being destroyed, but no one is responding. Significant action is still not being taken by the government institutions involved.”

Most of the residents of Sibuyan Island, particularly in Barangays Spain and Taclobo [in the municipality of San Fernando]they oppose mining because it will harm the environment and their way of life, he continued.

Barangays Espaa and Taclobo will be the site of the project proposed by APMC led by Gatchalian. According to the scoping project description, both villages will be home to mine shafts and support structures such as causeways, storage pens or docks, refuse chutes and settling ponds.

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pose a dangerous risk

Ibáñez says the proposed project locations are “extremely prone” to landslides.

To stop APMC’s mineral exploration efforts, residents of Sibuyan Island built a barricade in front of the pier the company was building.

According to Ibáñez, the locals want the mining corporation to show proof of barangay authorization, a municipal business permit, a DENR beach lease and a license from the Philippine Ports Authority to build a private port. He insisted that the company could not produce these records.

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

MIMAROPA Bureau of Mines and Geosciences regional director Glenn Marcelo Noble wrote to Philstar.com that APMC has received a license to export ore “for bulk testing purposes in accordance with its approved exploration work schedule.”

In order to carry out the required metallurgical investigation, the mining company under its MPSA requested the MOEP “to send [its] sample the ore to a reputable dropshipping ore testing and pyroplant company.”

The authority to mine within the contract area was granted to APMC through 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 compliance assurance, an approved environmental work program, and oversight by this agency.

important resolution

A public outreach exercise was held on January 19. 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 of “strong rejection of large-scale metal mining on the island of Sibuyan” was already adopted in June by the municipalities of San Fernando, Cajidiocan and Magdiwang in Romblon.

In addition, they urged Congress and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to give up industrial-scale metal mining on the island of Sibuyan.

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