Samar folk oppose mining on Manicani Island

Mining has left this scar, an open pit stripped of all vegetation, on Manicani Island off the town of Guiuan in Eastern Samar province. PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE MISEREOR

TACLOBAN CITY — Residents of Manicani Island off Giuan town in Eastern Samar demonstrated Wednesday morning to protest mining operations on their island.

About 200 people gathered outside the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Eastern Visayas (DENR-8) here to oppose mining on Manicani.

They handed a position paper to DENR which was received by assistant regional director Carlito Tuballe.

“We don’t want any mining operations on Manicani,” said Rebecca Destojo, president of the Protect  Manicani Island Society, as she urged the DENR to not renew the application of HMC for mining operations on the island.

The demonstration began at about 11:20 a.m. and dispersed an hour later.

The HMC has a pending application for its mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) as its current application is set to end on October 27.

Tuballe said that at their level, they could not do anything about HMC’s application.

“It is our central office which will have the final say. If they approve it, then so be it” he said.

“But we welcome their protest. It’s part of our democracy” Tuballe said. /cbb