A coalition of civil society organizations, churches, non-government organizations, and community leaders in the Province of Antique have united to express their strong opposition to the proposed declaration of a mineral reservation in the upland areas of Patnongon, San Remigio, Valderrama, and Sibalom.
In a position paper submitted to Regional Director Cecilia L. Ochavo-Saycon of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region VI, the group detailed the environmental, social, and economic risks posed by the proposal. They emphasized the long-term impact on Antique’s vital ecosystems, food security, and community livelihoods.
01 December 2024
CECILIA L. OCHAVO-SAYCON
Regional Director
Mines and Geosciences Bureau Office VI
Iloilo City
Subject: Submission of Position Paper Opposing the Proposed Mineral Reservation
Dear Director Ochavo-Saycon,
Greetings.
We, the undersigned organizations, coming from different sectors of the Province of Antique civil society, Non-Government Organizations, churches, academe, and other concerned groups, hereby submit this position paper expressing its strong opposition to the proposed mineral reservation in the upland areas of Patnongon, San Remigio, Valderrama, and Sibalom regarding Province of Antique. This position paper highlights critical concerns regarding the environmental, social, and economic risks associated with this proposal. Our arguments are anchored on the principles of sustainable development, a firm commitment based on sound evidence, community perspectives, and a reservation threatens the area’s vital watersheds, agricultural systems, and the well-being of its people.
Our group respectfully request your office to carefully review the points raised and reconsider the declaration of Antique’s natural and human resources. It is our shared hope that you will prioritize the principles of sustainability and the long-term interests of the communities affected.
Should further discussions or clarifications be needed, we are available for engagement at your convenience. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Attached herewith is our Position Paper articulating the grounds for our opposition to such proposal.
Sincerely yours,
MOST REV. MARVYN A. MACEDA D.D.
Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose de Antique
Bishop’s House Bantayan Street
San Jose de Buenavista, 5700 Antique
REV. FR. EDIONE R. FEBRERO JCL, MSSD, MPSA
Superintendent
St. Joseph Diocesan Catholic Schools
San Jose de Buenavista, 5700 Antique
REV. FR. FREDERICK T. RUBIDO
Ecology Ministry
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose de Antique
San Jose de Buenavista, 5700 Antique
ROMIL J. ARSENIO
Coordinator
Diocesan Commission on Youth
San Jose de Buenavista, 5700 Antique
MR. RICHARD PETINGLAY
Outreach Head Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professional (BCBP) – San Jose, Antique
San Jose de Buenavista, 5700 Antique
REV. FR. JOESELITO ESCOTE
Diocesan Commission on Social Action
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose de Antique
San Jose de Buenavista, 5700 Antique
DR. RALPH M. GARCIA
President
JOC Multisports, Inc.
San Angel, San Jose, Antique
RENY G. MUESCAN
Manager
Antique Provincial Government Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative
San Jose, Antique
ATTY. ROLLY O. PEDRIÑA
President
Dihon sa Raya Institute Inc.
Aningalan, San Remigio, 5714 Antique
BUGSAY Association, San Jose, Antique
PIO S. EVANGELIO
President
Sangguniang Laiko of Antique
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose de Antique
San Jose de Buenavista, 5700 Antique
SUSAN Q. NERMAL
Chief-of-Operations
Hublag EVEJLO, Inc.
San Jose de Buenavista, 5700 Antique
DOMINIC ROMERO
President
Students’ Ecological Emmissaries for the Defenders (SEEDS – SAC)
St. Anthony’s College
San Jose de Buenavista, 5700 Antique
DR. ROBLER PECHUECO
President
Hayaghay Sa Ambon Association, Inc.
Aningalan, San Remigio, 5714 Antique
REV. FR. ALVIN LIBOON
DYKA/SPIRIT FM
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose de Antique
San Jose de Buenavista, 5700 Antique
Position Paper on the Proposed Mineral Reservation Area on the mountains of Patnongon, Valderrama, San Remigio, and Sibalom, Province of Antique
Introduction
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has proposed a mineral reservation spanning approximately 7,000 hectares across the upland areas of Patnongon, San Remigio, Valderrama, and Sibalom in Antique. This area is known to contain significant deposits of copper, gold, chromite, and silver. While establishing a mineral reservation does not immediately authorize mining, it designates the area for exclusive mining purposes, laying the groundwork for mining projects that pose significant risks. For this reason, concerned NGOs, civil society organizations, the academe, and other organizations due to its potential to jeopardize crucial area encompasses vital watersheds that provide drinking water to multiple municipalities and irrigate uplands’ agricultural heartlands. Mining operations in this sensitive mountain ecosystem could exacerbate disasters like landslides and flashfloods, threaten Antique’s agricultural sector, disrupt the local economy, and downstream communities dependent on these life-sustaining resources.
Key Concerns
- Water Security and Agriculture: The mountains in the proposed area will pave the way for mining operations that threaten water security and crucial for local agriculture and water supply. The proposed mineral reservation encompasses vital parts of the Sibalom River Watershed, supplying drinking water to Sibalom, Belison, San Jose, Valderrama and Patnongon. The watershed also supports Antique’s rice granary in Sibalom. Mining operations—whether through pollution, sedimentation, or water diversion—would degrade water quality and reduce water flow, impacting the livelihoods of thousands who rely, either directly through farming or in towns that rely on this watershed. This poses a direct threat to food security farms in the backbone of the local economy and essential for food security in the province and neighboring provinces.
- Escalation of Calamities caused by landslides and flashfloods: The people of Southern Antique are still haunted by the devastating effects of Typhoons Paeng and Frank, which tragically claimed lives, destroyed properties, and decimated agriculture. These calamities serve as a stark reminder of the consequences when fragile mountain ecosystems are degraded.
- Undermining Sustainable/Regenerative Development Goals: Mining directly contradicts the principles of sustainable development championed by the Province of Antique. Local governments are focused on fostering ecotourism and sustainable growth, leveraging the region’s rich biodiversity, scenic agricultural and protected local culture and natural landscapes. These assets position Antique as an ideal destination for responsible tourism that not only generates revenue but also protects and respects the environment. These disruptive ecosystems had repeatedly been shown to degrade heritage sites, disrupt existing livelihood, jeopardizes the region’s tourism appeal. Beyond its environmental toll, mining diminishes long-term opportunities for sustainable development, undermining the vision of a thriving, ecologically balanced future for Antique.
- Impact on Community Health and Livelihoods: Communities near the proposed mining areas face severe health and livelihood risks from potential contamination of air, soil, and water due to the chemicals used in mining operations. Mining for copper, gold, and silver often involves substances such as cyanide, mercury, and sulfuric acid, all of which pose serious threats to both human health and the environment.
- Cyanide, commonly used in gold and silver extraction, is highly toxic. Even small amounts can contaminate water sources, causing acute poisoning in humans and animals. Prolonged exposure has been linked to respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological damage.
- Mercury, often employed in gold amalgamation, is a persistent pollutant that bioaccumulates in food chains. It can cause severe neurological and developmental disorders, particularly in children and pregnant women.
- Sulfuric acid, used to extract copper, can lead to acid mine drainage when leaked into surrounding ecosystems. This process increases soil and water acidity, killing aquatic life and making water unfit for human consumption or irrigation.
Moreover, the high water demand of mining operations diverts critical resources away from farms, livestock, and other livelihoods, compounding the socioeconomic burden on local populations. Historically, mining activities have often left behind barren landscapes and contaminated water sources, leading to severe and long-term economic repercussions, particularly for agriculture in affected communities. For example, despite past mining operations in Carawisan, San Remigio, local economic conditions remained stagnant. Communities are deeply concerned about repeating this history—where natural resources are exploited with minimal returns to locals, who are instead left to shoulder the health and environmental costs of mining activities.
- Environmental Risks and Accountability: Mining operations pose well-documented environmental risks, often leaving communities vulnerable to long-term environmental degradation. Soil erosion and biodiversity loss contribute significantly to deforestation, siltation of rivers, blasting activities contribute to estimated 5–10% of global deforestation directly linked to extractive industries. In mining areas, water contamination and habitat destruction are prevalent, disrupting ecosystems and threatening food and water security for surrounding communities. In the Philippines, studies by Bantay Kita and the Philippine Commission on Human Rights have highlighted mining’s destructive impacts on local environments.
For instance, the Tampakan copper-gold project was projected to generate 35 million tons of waste rock annually, posing a risk of acid mine drainage and contamination. Similarly, the Marcopper disaster in Marinduque in 1996, remains a stark example of the long-lasting environmental devastation caused by mining operations. The Corporate Accountability for Water systems, four provinces. Meters of toxic mine waste spilled into the environmental restoration is often lacking.
The Environmental Justice Atlas notes that less than 1% of mine sites in the Philippines have received adequate rehabilitation. This leaves communities to face the consequences of degraded landscapes, infertile soils, and polluted water sources, undermining their resilience and livelihoods. Weak regulatory enforcement compounds the issue. A 2021 study revealed that over 70% of environmental violations by mining companies in the Philippines went unpenalized, largely due to insufficient government oversight and corporate influence on regulatory bodies.
These gaps in enforcement exacerbate the environmental harm and erode public trust in mining governance. These risks highlight the urgent need for strict environmental safeguards and a shift toward sustainable alternatives that prioritize ecosystems and community well-being over extractive industries. The protection of natural resources must take precedence to ensure the long-term viability of livelihoods, food security, and long-lasting environmental health.
- Validity of Public Hearing conducted by the MGB: The public hearing conducted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) on 26 November 2024 in San Remigio raises serious questions about its validity and inclusiveness. While the hearing aimed to gather stakeholder feedback on the proposed mining reserve, it was attended by only a few barangay officials from Carawisan I, Carawisan II, Carmelo I, Carmelo II, and Bawang. Notably, no representatives from civil society organizations or other potentially affected areas were present. Full representation, a transparent dialogue, the hearing appeared to present. Instead of fostering a true and transparent dialogue, the hearing appeared to be a promotional campaign, focusing solely on the potential benefits of mining while failing to present its environmental, social, and economic risks. Moreover, several barangays, particularly those in the lower areas that are likely to face direct impacts from mining activities, were excluded from the process. By denying these communities the opportunity to voice their concerns, the MGB compromised the hearing’s integrity and undermined its legitimacy. A truly valid and balanced information raises serious doubts about the hearing’s legitimacy and whether it truly reflects the sentiments of all affected stakeholders.
- Displacement and militarization of communities: The displacement and militarization of communities in mining areas are well-documented and deeply troubling. Studies and reports from organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Global Witness have highlighted the systemic issues faced by communities affected by mining operations. Mining companies are granted easement rights under the Mining Act of 1995 (RA 7942), allowing for displacement of residents. This process often lacks adequate consultation and compensation, leaving individuals and families insufficient, with delays stretching for months or even years. A 2017 report by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights revealed that families displaced by mining received compensation amounting to only 10–30% of the actual land value, leaving them economically vulnerable. Additionally, a 2023 report by Global Witness ranked the Philippines as one of the most dangerous countries for environmental defenders, with mining operations frequently linked to violence. Between 2018 and 2022, more than 50 cases of community displacement were documented, often involving the use of armed security forces to intimidate residents, suppress protests, and create a climate of fear. Equally concerning is the lack of accountability. A study by Bantay Kita in 2021 revealed that 75% of environmental violations by mining companies went unpunished, often due to weak enforcement mechanisms and corruption within regulatory bodies. Moreover, in areas like Mantiao, the presence of armed groups has contributed further diminishing the lives been reported to influence government agencies, and oversight to protect communities from the social and economic injustices tied to mining operations. The displacement, exploitation, and intimidation experienced by affected populations demand immediate and systemic solutions.
Download the full position paper here