Jesus Cabias Jr. heaved a sigh of relief in the third week of February, watching as heavy machinery — including a giant dredger used for black sand mining — stopped entering the minefield in MacArthur town, Leyte, the Philippines.
For years, the 53-year-old farmer had joined fellow residents of the town of about 20,000 in rallies, waging a persistent battle against mining.
They were joined by anti-mining groups and environmental activists who called for an immediate halt to black sand mining, citing its serious threat to the environment and public health.
Black sand mining can cause coastal erosion, loss of habitats for aquatic and terrestrial species, and can increase vulnerability to flooding in affected communities. Water pollution from mining runoff may also impact local fisheries and drinking water sources.
Since early January, residents have formed what they describe as a “human barricade” to prevent the dredger from operating.
What we also want is the total cancellation of the mining permit
Jesus Cabias Jr.
The protests prompted the Leyte Provincial Council, which has jurisdiction over MacArthur municipality, to pass a resolution temporarily suspending black sand mining operations pending a comprehensive compliance review across the province in the central Philippines.
On February 19, MacArthur Iron Projects Corp. [MIPC], which had operated in the town for decades, announced it was closing its mining activities there.
Earlier, the company was granted a permit to mine about 2,000 hectares spanning MacArthur, Javier, and Abuyog in Leyte province.
Cabias said the halt is welcome but not enough.
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“What we also want is the total cancellation of the mining permit,” he said.
He argued that the provincial council’s decision should prompt national agencies — including the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture, and National Irrigation Administration — to review, and if warranted, revoke the permits of companies accused of harming the environment and local livelihoods.
MIPC said it had contributed to the community’s economic well-being over the years but chose to comply with the government’s order.
In light of the current situation, and in the interest of maintaining harmony and preventing further escalation, MIPC has decided to withdraw the dredger and re-evaluate its current work plan
MacArthur Iron Projects Corp.
In a statement, the company said it was removing the dredger “as part of a decision to re-evaluate the equipment’s use and ensure compliance with local regulations.”
“In light of the current situation, and in the interest of maintaining harmony and preventing further escalation, MIPC has decided to withdraw the dredger and re-evaluate its current work plan,” the statement said. The company added that it sought assistance from local government units to safely remove the structure.
The company claimed the project generated thousands of direct and indirect jobs, which stimulated household incomes, energised local businesses, and attracted investments.
Responding to opposition from residents, MIPC said it “is highly committed to enhancing mining efficiency and boosting the local economy.”
It claimed the mining operations contributed more than 100 million pesos [about US$1.7 million] annually in taxes and fees to the government.
Minerals extracted from black sand are used in the manufacture of chips, electronics, automobiles, mobile phones, and other industrial products.
The harm and damage to the environment and communities far outweigh the supposed economic benefits of the mining project,
Jaybee Garganera, Alyansa Tigil Mina
The company earlier posted a 56 million peso rehabilitation bond with the MGB to “restore the land area to full cultivation before its return to the owners.”
Jaybee Garganera, national coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina, said while the group welcomed MIPC’s decision, it questioned whether the company was genuinely listening to community concerns.
“The residents demand that they stop their operations, especially their entry into prime agricultural lands. Beyond just pulling out their dredger, the company should permanently leave MacArthur,” Garganera said in a February 27 statement.
“The harm and damage to the environment and communities far outweigh the supposed economic benefits of the mining project,” the statement added, urging the DENR to cancel the mining permit in MacArthur and other areas following comprehensive review and inspections.
Mineral-rich
The Philippines is the world’s fifth-most mineral-rich country, with an estimated US$1 trillion in untapped reserves of copper, gold, nickel, zinc and silver, according to a report published on January 27 by Chambers Global Practice Guides.
The Philippines is the world’s fifth-most mineral-rich country, with an estimated US$1 trillion in untapped reserves of copper, gold, nickel, zinc and silver, according to a report published on January 27 by Chambers Global Practice Guides
“Notwithstanding this, its mineral wealth remains largely untapped,” the report said. Of the country’s roughly 30 million hectares of land area, about nine million hectares have high mineral potential. Only about five per cent of reserves have been explored, and mining contracts cover roughly three per cent of those areas.
Despite this potential, mining remains a contentious issue in the Catholic-majority nation.
Rights groups say unregulated mining has caused pollution and environmental degradation, including deforestation, and poses threats to health, livelihoods, food security, and water supplies.
These impacts are often linked to the destruction of forested and agricultural areas, siltation of rivers, and contamination of groundwater with heavy metals. Such environmental degradation can exacerbate the effects of climate change by reducing natural carbon sinks and increasing communities’ vulnerability to extreme weather events.
“Indigenous peoples and rural communities are paying a heavy price for the world’s scramble for energy transition minerals,” Veronica Cabe, chairperson of Amnesty International Philippines, said in a January 9 report last year.
Mining disputes, including legal challenges, have resulted in the suspension of operations in several regions.
Indigenous peoples and rural communities are paying a heavy price for the world’s scramble for energy transition minerals
Veronica Cabe
However, when the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the economy, the government relaxed some mining regulations, arguing that this would help generate revenue and employment.
Local resident and anti-mining activist, Brenie Morcilla, described the dredger’s withdrawal as “a small victory for our community-led anti-mining efforts.”
“Because of our barricade, our protest actions and our prayer vigils, MIPC was forced to decide to pull out their gigantic dredger,” Morcilla said in a February 27 statement.
A lifeline
Despite environmental concerns, mining is credited with bringing economic opportunities to rural areas where farming often yields limited income. However, environmental damage caused by mining can undermine these economic benefits in the long term by reducing soil fertility, increasing disaster risks, and threatening food and water security.
Pepito Guimalan, 61, village chief of Maya in MacArthur, said mining had become a vital alternative livelihood.
“Our land is rich in magnetite sand, which makes it less ideal for farming,” Guimalan said.
Like other villagers, he leased part of his land to the mining company, generating income for himself and others.
At one point, the company employed about 300 villagers, each earning around 400 pesos [about US$7] a day. The income enabled families to buy appliances and motorcycles and to fund their children’s education, he said.
Guimalan said unemployment in the village fell from 75 per cent in 2010 to 32 per cent in 2020 due in part to mining.
The company also paid 1 million pesos to the village administration for repairs and development projects, he added.
“For a small village like ours, that amount is significant,” Guimalan said. UCAN
