FEB.

12, 2015

NR # 3740B

Probe on operations of four mining companies in Zambales pushed

Akbayan Party-list lawmakers have asked the House Committee on Natural
Resources to investigate the effects of the suspended operations of four mining companies
in Sta. Cruz and Candelaria, Zambales, which have reportedly displaced farmers and
fisherfolk and caused health concerns in the area.
Reps. Ibarra M. Gutierrez III and Walden F. Bello sought the probe through House
Resolution 1797 to identify the problems and explore the possible solutions to the
problematic mining operations, and prevent the occurrence of similar conditions in other
areas in the Philippines.
Gutierrez said Benguet Nickel Minerals Inc., Eramen Minerals Inc., Zambales
Diversified Metals Corporation and Filipinas Mining Corporation were authorized by
national government agencies to simultaneously extract nickel by stripping the mountains
to unearth and haul nickel minerals.
Although the government has already issued a suspension order on the operations of
the four mining firms, the damage has been done.
As a result of the simultaneous mining operations, Gutierrez said farms and rivers in
Sta. Cruz and Candelaria, Zambales were destroyed and affected residents complained of
rising incidence of asthma and skin allergies.
Affected farmers and fisherfolk complained of destruction of their farms and the
rivers but were not given adequate attention by local government officials because of the
seemingly regular permits issued to the mining companies by national government. The
affected residents developed health concerns like asthma and skin allergies, Gutierrez
said.
Gutierrez said because of the environmental and safety concerns raised by the
simultaneous operations of the mining companies, a Multidisciplinary Team was convened
to conduct monitoring and impact evaluation of the affected receiving streams and
adjoining receptors.
The Team was composed of Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesEnvironmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region III Technical Team,
representatives of the Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz, the Zambales Provincial
Engineering Office, Department of Public Works and Highways District Office of
Zambales, Municipal Engineering Office of Sta. Cruz, Municipal Planning and
Development Office of Sta. Cruz and Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone
Management-DENR Region III.

Gutierrez sought the probe citing Section 16, Article II of the 1987 Constitution,
which mandates the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
The corresponding right of the State in Section 2, Article XII of the Constitution
was translated into legislation by Republic Act No. 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of
1995, which made it the policy of the State to consider all mineral resources in public and
private lands within the Philippines as owned by the State and makes it the responsibility
of the State to promote rational exploration, development, utilization and conservation,
Gutierrez said.
But Bello said the Republic Act, coupled with Executive Order No. 79 issued by
President Benigno Aquino on July 12, 2012 and Memorandum issued by the MDT on July
14, 2014 were not enough to deter mining companies to conduct operations, which
directly cause not only degradation and destruction of the environment but also grave
threat to the lives and livelihood of the people within the area of mining operations.
EO No. 70 mandates the DENR and the EMB to study the adoption of the
Programmatic Environmental Impact Assessment in the implementation of the Philippine
Environmental Impact Statement System under President Decree No. 1586 for mining
project and related activities.
The Memorandum, on the other hand, recommended the suspension of extraction of
nickel ores and future expansion of mining areas due to unsystematic mining or stripping
method.
Bello said there is a need to establish facts and study the circumstances of the
mining operations conducted in Sta. Cruz and Candelaria in Zambales to ensure that the
occurrence of similar conditions in other parts of the country shall be prevented. (30) mrs