Mining exploration opposed in Guimaras town hit by oil spill
By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 23:28:00 03/25/2008
ILOILO CITY, Philippines -- Residents of the island-province of Guimaras and environmental groups have opposed an application of a multinational company for mining exploration activities on the island.
The Guimaras residents feared that the exploration being proposed by the Fil-Asian Strategic Resources and Properties Corp. (FASRPC) would threaten the island's rich resources still recovering from the massive oil spill in 2006.
"The people have already voiced out their opposition and we will stand by it," Mayor Alejandro Araneta of Nueva Valencia town told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a telephone interview.
Nueva Valencia, which was the hardest hit by the oil spill of the five municipalities of Guimaras, is home to the University of the Philippines in the Visayas marine biological station and the 1,143-hectare Taklong Island National Marine Reserve (Tinmar).
The marine reserve has 22 of the 35 existing species of mangroves in the Philippines, including the hybrid Rhizophova lamarckii (Bakhaw hybrid). Many of the mangroves in the area are between 50 and 75 years old.
Araneta said a considerable number of residents who attended a public hearing conducted last week by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources signed a position paper opposing the application.
The municipal council of Nueva Valencia also expressed its opposition to the exploration project through a resolution.
The Madiaas Ecological Movement (MEM) also expressed alarm over mining exploration activities in Guimaras and other areas on Panay Island.
MEM campaign coordinator Reylan Vergara said they would campaign against the exploration and actual mining projects, adding that the environmental damage brought about by mining would be irreversible.
Ed Coronel, the FASRPC vice president for corporate affairs, said they would continue to "dialogue" with the officials and residents opposing the project.
Coronel said exploration activities would not be intrusive and would involve only taking water and rock samples.
"It is important that the people understand what exploration activities mean and the potential economic benefits if mineral deposits are found," he added.
Coronel said the company would abide by the decision of the MGB on their application but would also respect the stand of the residents.
"There's nothing we can do if the people are against it," he said in a telephone interview.
The FASRPC, a subsidiary of the Australia-based Rusina Mining NL, plans to conduct exploration for gold and copper deposits in a 2,400-hectare area, covering nine of the 20 villages of Nueva Valencia town.
The villages covered by the application include Napandong, Sto. Domingo, Lucmayan, San Roque, Salvacion, La Paz, Cabalagnan, Canhawan and Igdarapdap.
The firm is also applying for a permit for mining exploration on a 621-hectare area on Pan De Azucar Island in Concepcion town, Iloilo.
The two projects cost P13.26 million each.
Araneta said the proposed exploration in his municipality would cover at least 20 percent of the town's total land area.
"Aside from the threats this will pose to our environment, this is also against the province's comprehensive land use plan," said Araneta.
He added that the project would impact on the province's development plan, which has been anchored on agro-tourism industries.
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