PLAYING WITH DISASTER: MINING AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN ILOCOS Prepared by Defend Ilocos Against Mining Plunder THE

REGION Ilocos is composed of four provinces Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan occupying a narrow strip of land in Northwest Luzon between the Central Cordillera Mountain Range and the West Philippine Sea. It has a total land area of 12, 840.20 km2 comprised mainly by mountains, thick forested areas, and narrow coastal plains. The region is characterized by a number of large and medium river systems with headwaters from the Cordillera mountain range. Two major river systems run across the region before reaching the West Philippine Sea. The Agno and the Abra River are the fifth and the sixth largest river system in the country, respectively. Both rivers trace their head waters from Mt. Data in Benguet. Agno River passes through Pangasinan while Abra River meanders through Ilocos Sur and Abra before they empty into the sea. The region is considered as a prime agricultural area despite the shortage of arable land due to the steep and rough terrain in the East and limited coastal plain in the West. An estimated 246,681 hectares of land is directly utilized for agriculture while 2, 610 hectares are forested. While some province like Pangasinan relies on the agro-industrial and service industry sector, the regions main economy is largely dependent on agriculture and fisheries with significant revenue generated coming from the cultivation of tobacco and rice in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union, and aquaculture in Pangasinan. The geological location of the region (its mountains are aggregate of the Cordillera Range) has provided vast mineral deposits in the mountains and forest areas. While the rivers cutting across the mineral-rich mountains have carried and discharge mineral and soil sediments creating thick and extensive placer deposits along its coastal areas. However, the same geological factor has also exposed it major risk occurring in the natural environment. Ilocos region sits astride a major typhoon path, experiencing an average of 27 typhoons from October to May. Most of its mountainous areas and foothills are inclined to landslide, ranking fourth in the Philippines. While its coastal plains are prone to flooding caused by river overflows, tidal surges, and soil saturation from continuous rainfall. Key fault lines in Northern Luzon are located within the region such as the Abra Fault and with proximity to the Manila Trench, a big fault line in the West Philippine Sea making it highly susceptible to major land movements, liquefaction, coastal erosion and tsunami. A tsunami risk assessment made by Philvocs and Coordinating Committee for Geosciences Programmes in East and Southeast Asia in 2009 noted that coastal areas, and their adjacent communities may experience a tsunami as high as 10 meters. Relevant to the natural geological hazards in the region are the risk associated with climate change. According to studies, the region falls within the high category for climate change related disaster with four major cities (Alaminos, San Fernando, Vigan and Laoag) & 44 municipalities with a total land area of 20,322,900 sq. meters are vulnerable to one meter sea level rise. A related study made by the UP-National Institute for Geological Sciences identified Vigan, Laoag and Alaminos being vulnerable to a similar catastrophic flash flood which happened in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. The region has been identified to experience extreme weather conditions that could greatly impact livelihoods (agriculture and fisheries), health and safety. STRIPPING OUR BEACHES & POLLUTING OUR RIVERS Even before the passage of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, the region has been experiencing non-stop mineral extraction. Limestone in La Union and Pangasinan has long been quarried for cement production (Bacnotan Cement, now owned by Holcim) and feldspar in Ilocos Norte. Extraction of sand and gravel is also a long standing concern in the region. The considerable mineral wealth in the region drew foreign and local mining companies and fanned the greed of corrupt politicians who saw great profits. As of July 2012, there are a total of 24 approved mining permits and 61 applications in the region covering a total of 1, 795, 597.55 hectares.

The region is currently confronting three mining cluster that needs immediate consideration: the offshore and onshore mining for magnetite and other minerals in the Ilocos coast, pollution and other hazards caused by mining operations in the upstream areas of the Abra (Lepanto Mining Corporation) and Agno (Philex Mining Corporation) Rivers, and the planned declaration of some areas as mineral reservation and onshore mining operations in Ilocos Norte.

Extraction of Magnetite and other Minerals. Magnetite or ironsand is the most abundant form of iron ore with deposits both on onshore and offshore areas usually occurring with vanadium, titanium, and even gold in placer deposits. Iron ore has a worldwide demand equaling those of gold and diamonds. In addition, extracting iron ore from the seabed and beaches entails less capitalization compared to land-based mining, further compounded by latest processing method that cheaply extract both vanadium and titanium from the ore, making ironsand mining highly profitable. The region holds an abundant deposit of magnetite along its beaches and further offshore as documented by the US Geological Survey that one of the best deposits of ironsand is located in the coastal areas of Northwest Luzon. USGS and MGB also noted that the Lingayen Gulf of Pangasinan alone holds an estimated 2.9 Billion tons of magnetite. Magnetite deposit in the provinces of Northwest Luzon has already reached more than 15 kilometers long offshore from the shorelines. In fact, Filmag (Phils.) Inc. was able to extract 2 million cubic meters of magnetite from 1964 to 1974 in the coastal areas of La Union alone. In 2006, former MGB-I Director Samuel Paragas was noted during a press briefing that magnetite extraction in the Ilocos coast could provide a total of $71 billion revenue for the government. The demand for ironsand is illustrated by the number of tenements for its extraction. From the 24 approved permits, five are exploration permits (EP), 12 are mineral processing & sharing agreement (MPSA) and one if for FTAA covering 36 municipalities & five cities in Ilocos Region for ironsand extraction. Active operations have been recorded mainly in the Province of Ilocos Sur, specifically in the towns of San Vicente, Sta. Catalina, Caoayan and Sta. Cruz. This has been attributed to the favorable stance of Gov. Chavit Singson on magnetite extraction, whose two sons, Rommel (Grand Total Exploration & Mining Corp. and Mina Fortuna International Mineral Resources, Inc.) and Randy (High Density Mineral Resources, Inc.) have pending application for magnetite extraction in La Union up to Ilocos Norte. An interview to a barangay captain in Caoayan made by ABS-CBN Ilocos illustrated the directl involvement of Gov. Singson in convincing local leaders to allow mining operation in their areas. Four Chinese companies have been identified operating within the province An Bang Mining Company, Hong Ze Mining Corp and China Yang Ze Corp. in San Vicente and Sta. Catalina; and Well Resources Mining Company in Caoayan. According to local resident and barangay officials, they have been justifying and covering their activities using industrial gravel and sand permit allegedly issued by the Provincial Government and waiting for the approval of their mineral processing permit (MPP). However, these companies do not appear on the list of ISAG permit and MPP holders based on MGB-I record as of July 2012. A report published by Pacific Strategies & Assessment released in April 2011 provides certain answers to the current situation of magnetite mining in the province. The study made the following findings and conclusions: Chinese's firms continue to exploit and abuse the People's Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991 by hiding behind the cover of domestic small-scale miners so to bypass Philippine mining laws and protocols as well as avoid the large capital requirements, fees, and taxes by coopting local government officials to avail small-scale mining permit directly from local government units for a minimal fee. China is often cited as among the worlds worst violators of occupational health and safety standards in mining, with regular instances of worker deaths across Chinese's mine sites and known for its negative global reputation for low safety standards and illicit practices in the industry. Chinese's mining companies have a reputation for poor adherence to environment standards, especially with regards to small-scale mining projects.

These records of Chinese's mining companies increase the risk on both short and long-term negative environmental impacts of their ironsand extraction in the area. It further illustrates the connivance of local officials, businessmen and foreign companies to plunder our natural resources. In Sta. Cruz, communities have reported small-scale magnetite extraction allegedly perpetuated by a local chief executive. The quarrying operation for the sand is taking place in a coastal area owned by the official and magnetite is manually separated by magnets in his adjacent farm. Degradation of Rivers and Streams from Mining Pollution. Since the early 1950s, Philex Mining Corp. has been discharging mining waste in the tributaries of the Agno River massively contributing to the rivers siltation and pollution from mine chemicals. Concerns on the possible leakage and collapse of the tailings' dam and its negative impacts have been repeatedly aired by the affected communities and environmental groups but authorities, especially the DENR has opted to remain silent about the matter. On the other hand, Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation (LCMC) has been dumping its waste in the Abra River for the past seven decades. While the company started to construct tailings' dam in the 1940s, successive dam failures and leakages occurred contaminating fertile lands, contributing to tons of silt and chemical poured into the Abra River system hastening its deterioration. Furthermore, the presence of LCMCs tailings dam No. 5A which holds thousands of tons of silt, water and chemical waste in an area prone to sudden earth movements (due to proximity with fault lines), receives a significant amount of rainfall and LCMCs record of dam failures is undeniably a threat to the communities along the Abra River. This is one of the reasons why the people of Mankayan, Cervantes, Quirino and other affected areas have been opposing the plan of LCMC to beef up its operation that will surely increase its waste discharges. The recent breach of Philexs tailings dam No. 3 that resulted with the discharged of up to 6.5 tons of sediments and chemical waste on Aug. 1 into the Balog River, a river tributary of the Agno River which flows down to Pangasinan is a testament not only of the pollution from large-scale mining but also the clear and present danger posed by such structures to the peoples safety and livelihood. Aggravating the situation are the numerous large-scale mining operations and applications, as well as uncontrolled small-scale mining activities along the tributaries and banks of the two rivers. Phelps DodgeFreport McMoran has started their exploration work in Patiacan, Quirino while other foreign companies are preparing to move in the other parts of the Abra-Ilocos Sur-Mt. Province tri-boundary. A significant number of mining operation masquerading as small-scale in the Patiacan have been the center of people's concern and upheaval during the Municipal Mining Summit it Quirino, Ilocos Sur. The said operations are directly dumping their waste into the Ballasian River (a tributary of the Abra River) which irrigates most of the rice fields and serves as a primary source of fish in the area. Another consideration is the planned dredging and extraction of gold and other placer minerals from the Abra River. The Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur in collaboration with MGB-I have been pushing the dredging of the river supposedly to rehabilitate and prevent flooding of nearby communities through a partnership with a mining company (believed to be Discovery Mines, holder of an MPSA in the area of Santa and Caoayan) who will shoulder the expenses for the dredging operation, and in return will be utilized economically important minerals and aggregates from the operation. Threatening the Last Primary Growth Forest. The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte led by Gov. Imee Marcos during the 11th Regional Mining Summit held in the province this year welcomed the renewed interest to invest on exploring and extracting the provinces mineral deposits like iron, feldspar and manganese. Since 2011, the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) have been convincing the indigenous people (IPs) through the deceptive free prior and informed consent (FPIC), particularly the municipalities of Adams, Carasi, Vintar, Piddig, Solsona, Nueva Era, and Cacafean, Marcos. Just recently, the MGB Region I conducted a series of public hearing to convince the people of Ilocos Norte to approve their plan to declare the lush forested areas within the six municipalities as mineral reservation covering a total of 61,203.2067 hectares. In Vintar alone, 19, 459.90 hectares of land covering the batangays of Isic-Isic, Cabangaran, Cabayo, Canaam, Dagupan and Tamdagan is targeted by MGB for mineral reservation. The said areas will affect the VintarLaoag watershed, which supports the Vintar-Laoag Irrigation System irrigating 2,377 hectares of farmlands in Vintar and Laoag City. In Carasi and Piddig, Rigid Aggregates and Mining Corporation is currently mining 2, 926.06 hectares of land to extract iron, copper and gold. Its operation has caused massive siltation and pollution of rivers affecting adjacent municipalities, while a large portion of Solsona is covered by an MPSA application of Benguet

Corporation. While abandoned mines litters the municipality of Adams, Nueva Era, and Pinili which is at risk of creating a spread of acidic water that may contaminate both the land and underground water system. These mining operations and applications will directly impact the last primary growth forest in the province which serves as watershed and home to a very diverse wildlife. It generates disunity amongst the IP communities due to boundary dispute like the case of Piddig vs Carasi, Cacafean, Marcos vs Santo Nino, Nueva Era; and Adams, Ilocos Norte vs Calanasan, Apayao. MINING: AMPLIFYING THE THREATS & VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS Mining amplifies the regions vulnerability to climate change and geological disasters. It threatens environmental security, public safety and livelihood. It is a direct attack against the people's right to a healthy and balance environment and the roots cause of other human rights violations. Mining increases the regions vulnerability to coastal erosion, landslides, flooding, tsunami and other disasters. According to a study made by members of UP-NIGS, the total volume of ironsand extracted in the coastal towns of La Union from 1964-1974 constitute to approximately 2 meters of deepening and 10 meters shoreline retreat per 1 meter of coastal segment. The study further noted that heavy magnetite serves as a natural beach armor protecting the beach from strong waves and currents. Other studies also noted that extraction activity on the beach and offshore areas loosens the sand making it more vulnerable to transport by different media such as the wind, wave, and current. This finding on the negative impact of ironsand extraction was further validated by an environmental investigative mission separately conducted by Katinnulong Dagiti Umili ti Aminan, Inc. (KADUAMI)-Regional Development Center and Center for Environmental Concerns-Philippines in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The research attributed the increased rate of coastal erosion and frequent flooding in Buguey, Gonzaga, and other coastal towns to the ironsand mining operation by Chinese's firms. Offshore dredging to extract the magnetite from the sea bottom changes the bottom topography and wave patterns, disturbing the natural cycle of beach sand erosion and deposition. Furthermore, ironsand mining in the beaches and dune areas such as the one happening in Caoayan, San Vicente and Sta. Catalina undermines the stability of sand dunes, which serves as natural protection against tidal surges and even tsunamis. An evaluation conducted by the University of Northern Philippine (UNP) in 2008 on strategic quarry sites for construction aggregates in the region noted that extraction disturbs the water flow since deposition of silt from the same activity tends to concentrate in the center of the river causing divergence in flow, shift of change of direction or a meander. Additionally, quarrying disturbs the natural cohesion of the soil causing the river mouth to widen and destruction of river banks. Mining operation in the upland increases the danger of flash floods and landslides that may devastate communities downstream. The cutting of trees associated with mining operations can significantly diminish the ability of the streams and rivers to replenish, absorb rainwater run-offs and hold the soil and rocks together. Mining operation greatly contributes to the siltation and pollution of rivers, streams and other fishing grounds in the region diminishing their ability to support life. Sediments from mining operations have polluted and made the streams, rivers shallower. Effluents discharge from tailings dam such as the one maintained by LCMC at Cabiten, Mankayan has been identified to be a factor of high levels of dissolved solids and heavy metals in the river system. A study made by SLU and UP Baguio in 2005 indicated that high concentration of heavy metals coming from LCMCs Dam 5A continue to contaminate and leave negative effects both on terrestrial and aquatic organisms in the river system. Beach and offshore mining, on the other hand, significantly disturb the seabed substrate increasing water turbidity, change the composition of the seabed, and exposed pressure and light sensitive benthic organisms that may result to eradication of entire benthic communities. Fine sediments in the water column damage the breathing apparatus of fishes and other organism (smothering) and covering corals and marine grasses as they settle disrupting photosynthetic and other related biological activities. It upsets and destroys the complex symbiotic relationship which exists between sandbanks, coral reefs, marine biota, wave and swell patterns. Mining operation threatens food security and other economic activities throughout the region. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in its 1985 report that large input of mine tailings (26,380 tons/day in 1978) into the river, together with the input of soil through erosional forces, has negatively impacted the irrigated crop yields, reducing them by 20 to 50%. Current estimate of the area adversely affected by sedimentation in the Agno River catchment is 27 000 ha of land.

Accumulated mine waste in the Agno river could eventually impact brackish water aquaculture, one of the main fishery sectors in Pangasinan. A series of EIM conducted by Save the Abra River Movement (STARM) and other institutions from 20022005 identified that mining effluents coming from LCMCs tailings dam greatly contributes to the significant loss of aquatic life. Farmers also reported of stunted palay growth in rice fields contaminated by mine tailings after the dam failures and those that are irrigated from the river. Along the 25 km stretch of the Abra River from Dam 5A downstream, an estimated 465 hectares of fertile rice lands have been washed away. Beach and offshore mining activities will, likewise, in impact fish stocks both in the nearshore and offshore areas diminishing fish and/or forcing fishermen to go farther offshore to catch fish. It also exposes fishpens (in river mouths) and fishponds to tidal surges and eventual destruction. In the region, the beach areas meet the agricultural lands, thus, crop production is also in peril from beach mining, making it vulnerable to salt water intrusion and erosion such is the case of Paratong and Tamorong, Sta. Catalina. It also endangers the beautiful seascape of the Ilocos known for its sand dunes, gently sloping beaches and ideal waves for surfing. Additionally, the compounded effects of aggregate quarrying leads to flooding during rainy seasons depositing sand and gravel to nearby farmlands or wash away the nutrient-rich top soil making the area barren. Mining intensifies human rights violation. The increasing anti-mining sentiments and growing organized environmental movement throughout the region has not been spared from the vicious attacks of mining companies and the government. Environmental advocates and leaders are vilified, threatened and harassed. Defend Ilocos Agianst Mining Plunder (DEFEND ILOCOS) has received information from its supportive local government officials and allies that PNP, AFP and local politicians have given order to their respective subordinates to monitor the activities and identify the personalities behind the network. Just recently, men (identified with a prominent politician with direct interest and participation in the entry of ironsand extraction) asked about the members of Defend Ilocos who conducting information and education campaign in Caparacadan & Manangat in Coayan, and San Pedro & Mindoro in the City of Vigan. Ms. Donna Rabang Peta, convener of Defend Ilocos Against Mining Plunder has been alleged by Dumalneg Mayor Francis Espiritu and ABC President Faustino Tomas of being a member of the NPA. She continues to experience surveillance, and her whereabouts is being monitored by men believed to be members of the governments armed agencies. Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation and Ilocos Center for Research, Empowerment and Development, Inc. both part of the DEFEND ILOCOS network were, likewise, subjected to vilification by state agents, alleging them as NPA fronts and tagging their programs and activities as communist-terrorist non-violent activities. Mr. Sherwin de Vera, BAYAN MUNA Regional Coordinator for Ilocos and who conducted a research on the impacts of mining along the Abra River for his undergraduate thesis and volunteered to be a community researcher and educator for STARM have experienced similar accusations and threats. Mr. Melchor Ines and Fr. Albert Rabe, members of Ilocos Sur Collective Action for the Protection of the Environment (ISCAPE), have received threats for their vocal opposition and active community mobilization against magnetite extraction in Sta. Catalina and the adjacent town of San Vicente. In an effort to discredit the growing anti-mining movement, Altamina Exploration and Resources, the respondent in the petition for the Writ of Kalikasan filed by Defend Ilocos claims that groups opposing mining, especially Chinese and Japanese mining companies are only masquerading as nature protectors and fronts of Western countries dependent on mining such as Australia and Canada. PLAYING WITH DISASTER Despite their own findings that identify the region as among the top areas at risk to geological hazard in the country, MGB continues to promote mining in the region. Working with other government agencies such as the NCIP, they relentlessly bombard the people with the supposed benefits from mining, which is very small compared with the damage it leaves to the environment. Even MGB Dir. Leo Jasareno admitted during an interview with Ted Faylon that at present, the country receives a very small amount of revenue and benefits from mining. Moreover, greedy mining companies and corrupt local politician have joined their machinery and resources to deceive, coopt and intimidate people into agreeing for their mining operations. The duplicity of local officials over the issue of mining is best illustrated by the posturing of the Provincial Government of Ilocos

Sur as an environment advocate by issuing policies supposedly prohibiting mining in the province but actively convincing mayors and barangay officials to allow Chinese companies with questionable mining records conduct magnetite extraction in the guise of industrial sand operation. With present and future mining activities looming from the reef to the ridge of the region and interacting with the constant dangers posed by geological hazards and climate change the government, pro-mining politicians, and mining companies are fashioning the best recipe for disaster to happen. In the end, the people will be left suffering while those responsible for the catastrophe will excuse themselves and counting their shares from the wholesale of our region's mineral resources.