BORONGAN (UCAN): Bishop Crispin Varquez of the Diocese of Borongan, on the historical island of Homonhon, the Philippines, called on the government to take action against mining activities by four companies which allegedly have had a negative impact on communities and the natural environment.
“At present, there are four active mining companies operating on the island. Their immediate and negative effects on communities and the natural environment are very alarming,” which covers the island, Bishop Varquez said in a statement on April 11.
The bishop said that the diocese is “very much disturbed by the escalated mining operations in our beloved historical island of Homonhon.”
He called on government leaders and concerned agencies to take action on this matter.
Homonhon island is where Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, landed on 16 March 1521, marking the arrival of Christianity in the country.
According to the Philippine New Agency, mining firms, Techiron Resources, Inc.; Emir Mineral Resources Corp.; King Resources Mining Corp;. and Global Min-met Resources, Inc.; are operating on Homonhon.
Bishop Varquez’s statement came after local residents, mostly fishing communities, complained about depleted fish stocks. They say mining activities have polluted the waters and they have been forced to go further out to sea to fish.
We told Bishop Varquez that earlier we could go home before midnight because we would have already caught enough fish. But now, it takes all night to get a decent catch. We need to go a few kilometres further
Alexis Oyayino
The corporations have taken over 10,000 hectares of land to mine for deposits of nickel and chromite since 1983, despite opposition from locals, according to a 2019 report on Mongabay.com.
A fisherman, Alexis Oyayino, said that they recently told the bishop about their troubles catching enough fish.
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“We told Bishop Varquez that earlier we could go home before midnight because we would have already caught enough fish. But now, it takes all night to get a decent catch. We need to go a few kilometres further,” Oyayino said
He said that not only does he catch fewer fish, but he also needs to spend more time and fuel for going further out to sea.
“Of course, it’s more work and capital because instead of using three litres of gasoline, now I use five to seven litres,” Oyayino added.
Residents claim mining activities do not benefit local communities, particularly the indigenous peoples on the island.
In 2020, residents saw a cargo ship that docked at a local pier to collect 7,000 tons of chromite and other minerals.
“We keep on seeing ships that dock at our ports and trucks loaded with minerals headed towards them. But we do not have the benefits of mining here … we’re still poor,” another fisherman, Christian Mustopa, lamented.
Mustopa claimed even animals such as the critically endangered Philippine cockatoo are no longer visible on the island.
We keep on seeing ships that dock at our ports and trucks loaded with minerals headed towards them. But we do not have the benefits of mining here … we’re still poo
Christian Mustopa
“Our island is a natural habitat for the Philippine cockatoo but now it’s gone. We made efforts to protect them, but their ultimate protection are the trees and forests of the island. Without them, they could be extinct … this is why we went to the bishop to call on our leaders to intervene,” Mustopa added.
A leader from the anti-mining group, “Alyansa Tigil Mina” [Alliance to End Mining], said the government must investigate the allegations and stop mining on the island.
“Stop large-scale mining that only profits those who are in power and corporations. It’s anti-poor and anti-environment. If we don’t stop this, there will be no more Homonhon Island in a few decades,” Alyansa secretary, Karlo de Dios, said.
For decades, environmental and Church groups have opposed open-pit mining on the island, citing detrimental impacts on the communities and the environment.
In 2021, Homonhon priest, Father Christian Ofilan, said the “sacredness” of the island was lost due to “our irresponsibility” and called on the government to stop “desecrating” the island.
UCAN reached out to Techiron Resources Inc., one of the firms operating on the island, but did not receive any response.
Techiron is currently mining 1,500 hectares on Homonhon with chromite production of 34,108 dry metric tons valued at 296.59 million pesos [$40.87 million] in 2020, according to Philippine Centre for Investigative Journalism.
