(Second of three parts)
CITY OF MATI, Davao Oriental – Amid the projected multi-billion investment that the mining industry could bring to the province, Gov. Niño Sotero Uy insisted that mining is not a priority.
A VILLAGER stands inside the Community Based Forest Management area in Barangay Macambol, City of Mati, Davao Oriental. (Keith Bacongco)
Uy said that the province could still survive without mining as it is focused in the tourism industry.
The province of Davao Oriental is one of the highly mineralized areas in the region.
The province has a total land area of 568,000 hectares and data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau showed that at least 449,000 hectares or about 80 percent are already covered by mining tenements.
As of 2022, eight of them are Mineral Production Sharing Agreements and the rest are exploration permits.
MGB data further showed that the mineral industry in the province has an estimated capital investment of P12 billion, primarily on nickel mining.
Uy reaffirmed the stance of the provincial government against mining activities in the province, saying that he prefers to further boost its tourism industry.
VILLAGERS take a dip at the natural spring resort in Sitio Catmonan, Barangay Macambol, City of Mati, Davao Oriental. (Keith Bacongco)
The province is home to some of the most popular tourist destinations in the region.
The governor said that while they could no longer stop existing mining tenements in the province, the provincial government will no longer entertain new mining applications in the province.
Uy believes that there are many other ways to uplift the economic condition of his constituents in province other than mining.
“From the start, the thrust of the province is the development of tourism industry. Thus, it doesn’t look good if there are mining activities. Because whether we like it or not, mining can create some destruction to our environment,” the governor said.
In 2014, the Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Range Sanctuary was inscribed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, becoming the first site in Mindanao and the sixth in the Philippines. Since then, it has become one of the main tourists attractions in the province.
Uy acknowledged the contributions of the mining company to the host community such as school buildings, educational assistance, outreach programs, and livelihood.
Amid projected revenues and benefits that mining could bring to the province, the governor insisted that “the province can survive even without mining.”
Cynthia Rodriguez, consultant of the provincial government in the tourism sector, said Mount Hamiguitan is the betoken embodiment of the rich biodiversity of the whole province.
“The bountiful richness of Davao Oriental speaks of the eco-tourism it can offer, from the splendors of the beautiful bays and seas and of the almost undisturbed vegetations of our forests,” Rodriguez said.
If Mount Hamiguitan is destroyed, it would result to the death of the iconic and symbolical image. “Only the dusts of the dugged up soils will remain in our barren polluted mountains and seas. The end of a sustaining ecological life in Davao Oriental.”
Manila Bulletin has asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and MGB offices in Davao region to comment why mining operations have been allowed in this key biodiversity area.
The two agencies have yet to respond as of Saturday, December 9.
Protect the watershed, Pujada Bay
Roger Billote, vice president of the Macambol Multisectoral Alliance for Integral Development (MMSAID), said that they are wary of the impact of ongoing mining operations to the watershed area. MMSAID is a community-based environment advocate group that has been opposing the mining operations for over 15 years.
ROGER Billote at the natural spring resort in Sitio Catmonan, Barangay Macambol, City of Mati, Davao Oriental. (Keith Bacongco)
Billote added that deforestation from mining operations may bring adverse effects to the water supply in the area.
“Even there are still many trees in Hamiguitan now, the water level of the river system here is getting lower each week due to absence of rain. So how much more if many trees will be cut down as mining operations expand?” he said.
Along with the Catholic Church and other environmental groups, MMSAID has been campaigning to stop the Pujada Nickel Project for nearly two decades.
Romeo Hempiso, one of the board of trustees of the Macambol Coastal Upland Development Association (MCUDA), echoed Billote’s sentiments on the impact of mining on water sources around the mountain range.
MCUDA is the holder of a Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) permit that straddles at least 1,000 hectares on the foot of the mountain range.
“We are not opposing the mining operations but we are asking them to exclude the CBFM area,” Hempiso said. “We have spent our blood, sweat, and tears to nurture our CBFM area. Thus, we will not allow the mining operations to destroy what we have nurtured for years.”
A STUDENT of Macambol Elementary School shows a bag with school supplies provided by the Hallmark Mining Co. Every year, the mining firm provides a set of school bag and school supplies to at least 3,000 students. (Keith Bacongco)
Aside from operating a community spring resort, MCUDA also propagates Philippine native tree species in their barangay. Among these are Agar, Catmon, Lauan, and Magkono.
Billote admitted that they could no longer stop mining operations but is appealing to the government as well as to the mining company to help them protect the watershed area in Barangays of Catmonan and Macambol.
“We don’t know yet if what will be the long-term effect mining to our forests, to our water source, and to Pujada Bay. We want to save our forests, our water source for the next generation,” Billote said.
Overlapping
The CBMFM sits within the 5,000-hectare MPSA of Hallmark Mining Corp.
Hempiso said the 25-year CBFM was awarded to MCUDA in 2000.
The 25-year MPSA was awarded to HMC in 2004, based on the records from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Dr. Arvin Carlom, the mining company’s community relations manager, confirmed that the CBFM is indeed within the coverage of their mining tenement.
Carlom said they have yet to discuss with the MCUDA the issue on overlapping of their claims.
He assured that the mining company will not mine in the declared watershed area since it is also protected by law.
“By law and by moral obligation of the company, we will never touch these watershed areas. Otherwise, it would be very costly for the company,” Carlom said.
Mayor Michelle Rabat here disclosed that the city government has some interventions to resolve the issue on overlapping of claims.
Rabat said that the area is also a known tourist destination, particularly the natural springs in Sitio Catmonan in Barangay Macambol.
She added that the city government is closely monitoring mining operations to ensure the protection of communities dependent on natural resources in the area.
Macambol is one of the top tourist spots in this city as it hosts several beach and natural spring resorts.
Pujada Bay, which is adjacent to Macambol, is also rich marine resource among villagers.
FISHING vessels moor at Pujada Bay, City of Mati, Davao Oriental. (Keith Bacongco)
Billote, also a fisherman, said that he is wary that the contamination of the rivers and coastline in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental, could also happen in Pujada Bay.
“The weather pattern these days is very unpredictable. And when it rains, it rains so hard. We are worried since many villagers also depend on fishing for living.”
In January 2022, a heavy downpour caused the siltation ponds of Riverbend Consolidated Mining Corp./Arc Nickel Resources Inc. (RCMC/ANRI) to overflow, resulting in discoloration and siltation to the nearby Mapagba and Pintatagan Rivers in Banaybanay.
The incident sparked public outcry in the region and prompted the Mines Geosciences Bureau to suspend the firm’s mining operation.
Rabat said what happened in Banaybanay may never happen here as the mining firm operating in this city is a responsible miner.
Carlom assured the public that the mining company has enough mitigating measures in place to prevent similar incident.
He added that the firm is spending at least P30 million every year for its mitigating measures.
Carlom explained that the firm has built siltation canals, 32 dump pits, and filtration methods to prevent silts from running down to Pujada Bay.
“That’s how you do mining, you have to spend, because it is very costly if you don’t invest in mitigating measures,” he said, adding that the mining company’s most valuable asset is its reputation. “Once it is eroded, no one will trust you anymore.”
(This story was produced with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network)