Environmental group pushes for Marinduque to be a mining-free zone

ATM Statement | November 23, 2023

The Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC) called on the national government today to de-list Marinduque from the priority mining areas and to declare the province as a mining free zone.

In a statement, MACEC said they are opposing the proposal to have 1,343.74 hectares from five (5) barangays in Mogpog, Marinduque declared as a Mineral Reserve Area. They are also resisting any proposed mining in Mogpog and other towns and are calling the DENR to lead the rehabilitation of Mogpog and other affected communities.

Elizabeth Manggol, Executive Secretary of MACE said that “Mogpoguenos will never forget the destruction of the Maguila-guila Siltation Dam of Marcopper that brought about floods and caused the loss of property and livelihoods of the residents as well as the loss of lives of two innocent children.”

She said that until the present, the mining company has not admitted any culpability for the destruction and has instead put the blame on nature. “Those affected were not even given compensation except for 500-pesos worth of assistance.”

Stressing that Mogpog River has been declared dead due to lack of rehabilitation, Manggol said that “thirty years has passed since the tragedy but still there is no justice among those affected”. She added that “Marcopper was not held accountable for the damages it caused.”

“Marinduque can no longer be a mining area as its carrying capacity has been compromised and affected by previous mining activities,” she concluded.

MACEC’s statement noted that apart from local resolutions, the Mimaropa Regional Development Council (RDC) has also issued a resolution “favorably endorsing the initiative to declare the province of Marinduque as a mining-free zone.”

Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina, fully supported the calls of MACEC. “The people of Marinduque have suffered too much already from the ill effects of mining. The national government and the DENR must listen to the pleas of the residents and declare the province as a mining free zone.”