Bagacay Abandoned Mine

 BAGACAY ABANDONED MINE

Nestled among the foggy, forested mountains of Western Samar is the abandoned pyrite and copper mine of Bagacay in the municipality of Hinabangan. The Marinduque Iron Mines Agent, Inc. (MMIC) began mining this area in 1956. In 1985, a Memorandum of Agreement between MMIC and PHILPHOS transferred mining rights to the Philippine Pyrite Corp. (PPC). This video shows open pits that PPC abandoned in 1992 and are now partially eroded. Part of the 70-hectare failed reforestation area is also viewed. (Former officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were given PhP5 million for the task. They did not test for soil quality, and none of the planted trees survived. Only the sticks that were supposed to guide their growth remain.) Also seen here are shots of dark effluent flowing downhill from the mine site to the village, along the way discoloring limestone into black, rich ochre, and a rather smelly bright yellow. Residents suspect the yellow tinge is caused by sulfur which was heavily used at the mine. Lastly, a view of the Central Guila-guila Creek is included. Without any water treatment, soil rehabilitation or tailings pit maintainance, acid mine drainage continues to pollute the Guila-guila Creek. Guila-guila runs through the mined area, flowing near the tailings dams and all abandoned pits, before draining into the Taft River. Residents of Bagacay get their drinking water from hand pumps and deep wells. They are conflicted about the idea of resuming mining operations in the area because, while they are very concerned about water safety and other environmental and health impacts of mining, they are also in dire need of livelihood. A temporary dam of piled stones, not expected to last the next storm, has been commissioned by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, to block larger pieces of rock from being carried by the water down to the village. An experimental farm plot also continues to search for ways to make the abandoned mine site sustain plant life again. Moreover, a rehabilitation of the abandoned mine using World Bank funding is being prepared, but will not include soil treatment and water quality restoration. Residents are asking how far their government will go for environmentally sound poverty reduction. (With support from JJCICSI.) (more)