Forging Strength: Dinagat Islands Communities' Resilience Against the Ongoing Challenges of Mining3/11/2024 Photos of the Municipality of Loreto, Province of Dinagat Islands. Last February, a week-long fieldwork was facilitated by Bantay Kita within the communities of Loreto, Tubajon, and Libjo in the Province of Dinagat Islands. The aim was to assess the overall developments since the previous visit, address ongoing issues and support livelihood initiatives already underway in these areas. Dinagat Islands, a Region Rich in Resources The Province of Dinagat Islands is renowned for its stunning turquoise waters, rich biodiversity, and ecosystem. With approximately 400 plant species and 100 bird species [1], it serves as a sanctuary for diverse wildlife, including numerous endangered species. Its captivating lagoons, bays, and beaches teem with marine life such as dugongs, manta rays, whale sharks, sea turtles, and dolphins [2]. Additionally, the province boasts remarkable natural landmarks like Mount Redondo, the unique Bonsai Forest. However, alongside its natural beauty, Dinagat Islands is also a mineral reservation area, leading to the presence of widespread mining activities in the region. Numerous mining companies are already engaged in exploration and processing, posing both economic benefits and environmental concerns. The mining industry, while being seen as offering economic opportunities, also brings adverse effects, not only on the environment but also on local communities. Throughout the year, and especially during the mining season, these impacts intensify, manifesting in dust clouds, water contamination, increased mining traffic, and other detrimental effects on the area's ecology and inhabitants. Environmental and Socio-economic Challenges Furthermore, given the region's susceptibility to natural disasters and other climate-related challenges, mining operations only amplify these risks. Local communities are increasingly vulnerable to landslides, floods, deforestation, and water contamination exacerbated by mining activities. These natural resources are vital for the community’s livelihoods, particularly in farming and fishing. For instance, in Loreto, where rice farming and fishing are predominant, the intrusion of nickel mines directly threatens their traditional means of sustenance. However, some communities remain partially dependent on mining activities. Many people find employment in these operations, which are presented as important sources of income, particularly in this region. Nevertheless, problems such as underpaid workers persist, contributing to persistent poverty levels. Although presented as an economic catalyst, mining activities often do not directly benefit the communities concerned. Then who really benefits from these activities if not the communities whose resources are exploited? In this context, communities are disproportionately affected and often feel powerless against the influence of mining companies and government entities. However, in the face of these challenges, communities are resilient, actively seeking alternative sources of income to mitigate their dependence on mining-related activities and are taking action to get their fair share. Water contamination in the Municipality of Loreto. Communities' Resilience Against the Devastating Impact of Mining Some communities have plans to diversify their sources of income towards more sustainable options, such as ecotourism. For example, the community of Imelda has drawn up plans to attract more tourists to its area. These plans include the development of transportation systems to accommodate future visitors, and the construction of a mountain-top lookout. This mountain is part of the reforestation efforts and offers a spectacular view of the wide protected forest and beaches. The locals are motivated to preserve their forests and waters, not only for their livelihoods, but also because they recognize its potential as tourist attractions. They are actively working to develop tourism initiatives, including guided tours, snorkeling and the possibility of observing baby sharks in their natural habitat. These efforts would enable tourists to discover the corals and marine life away from the impact of mining operations, thereby diversifying the community's sources of income. The Marine Protected Area (left photo) and the Mountain Peak (right photo) found in Barangay Imelda, Municipality of Tubajon. As previously mentioned, the region is home to an enormous bonsai forest. Unfortunately, this renowned forest is situated within the former Krominco Inc. mining site in Loreto, which risks diminishing its appeal to tourists. Nevertheless, there is potential to develop the forest as an ecotourism destination, given that its impact on the environment is minimal and it could provide an additional source of income for the community [3]. Furthermore, aware of the negative effects of mining, members of the Loreto People's Organization are in the process of formalizing their group by obtaining registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This step is intended to facilitate access to formal funding from government and private funders. A photo of the Bonsai Forest found within the KROMINCO mines in the Municipality of Loreto. In Libjo, fishermen have undertaken efforts to improve their livelihoods. They are currently building a floating cottage with underwater artificial reefs to encourage fish reproduction and sustain their catches. In addition, they act as Bantay Dagat ("sea watchmen"), in order to prevent other local fishermen from engaging in illegal fishing practices that could potentially have a negative impact. However, the issue of mining continues to have a significant impact on their marine environment. Despite their conservation efforts, nickel mining remains a major challenge, particularly during the mining season going from March to October, meaning that they still need to continue their efforts and initiatives to counter the effects of mining activities with limited resources. Municipality of Libjo, Province of Dinagat Islands. The visit to Dinagat Islands highlighted the region's natural wealth, as well as the challenges posed by mining activities. These activities threaten the environment, health and the livelihoods of local communities. In response, some communities are turning to more sustainable solution and are showing resilience and courage against the destruction of their environment due to mining. Although challenges remain, the commitment of local people to preserving their environment offers hope for a more sustainable future in Dinagat Islands. References: [1] Rainforest Trust. n.d. “Safeguarding the Endangered Rats and Bats of Dinagat”. Rainforest Trust. https://www.rainforesttrust.org/urgent-projects/safeguarding-the-endangered-rats-and-bats-of-dinagat/ [2] Ibid. [3] Mayuga, Jonathan L. 2017. “Renewed hope for Dinagat Islands”. Department of Environment and Natural resources – Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Services. https://faspselib.denr.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Feb%2012%20%5BBUSINESS%20MIRROR%5D%20Renewed%20hope%20for%20Dinagat%20Islands.pdf About the author
Camille Thom is currently an intern at Bantay Kita. As of this posting, she is enrolled as a graduate student at the Université de Montréal.
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On Wednesday, February 7th 2024, at approximately 7:40 PM a devastating landslide struck the gold-mining mountain villages in Maco, Davao de Oro in barangays Elizalde, Mainit and Masara which buried homes and two buses carrying over two dozen passengers. Maco’s disaster agency has reported (as of writing) 11 deaths, 110 missing persons and 1,166 families evacuated from their homes. Approximately 31 residents have survived with injuries.
Standing in unwavering solidarity with all community members affected by this catastrophe, Bantay Kita believes in holding government agencies and mining companies accountable to adhere to the utmost standards of disaster risk management and hazard assessments in mining areas. In the wake of escalating natural calamities, exacerbated by the climate crisis, and further intensified by extractive industry operations, we call on mining companies and government officials to place paramount importance on community safety, protection and safeguarding of climate mitigating ecosystems. The impacted region was close to a mining site that employed people in three shifts to run its 24- hour operations. Mine workers from APEX Mining Co. Inc. Maco Gold Mine have been identified as amongst the missing persons. The mine workers were waiting to be transported home in two buses when the landslide struck and buried the coaches. The landslide in Maco was induced by easterlies, torrential rains and flash floods occurring in Davao Region, SOCSKSARGEN, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. The mountainous terrain, heavy rainfall, widespread deforestation and blasting operations in the mining area are key triggers to landslides. Landslides in Masara were also triggered in 2008 and 2013. Another landslide happened five days before the big tragedy, however mining operations continued. Indigenous and local communities hosting large-scale mining continue to bear the brunt of natural disasters from climate catastrophe. In this case, indigenous communities of the Mansaka tribe are amongst the most vulnerable as the community faces forcible evacuation due to this landslide. We further urge government agencies and mining companies to undertake Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) approaches to hazard mapping which enables the mapping of multiple scenarios for a particular hazard under climate change. The Probabilistic Risk Assessment Approach to hazard mapping has been recommended in 2017 by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Philippine government through the 2017-2022 and 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plans and the 2019 Climate Change Commission resolution, yet implementation has not been effectively disseminated nationwide. As a mineral-rich country, the Philippines draws significant mining investments but raises environmental and socio-economic concerns, especially for indigenous communities in mining regions. Bantay Kita (BK) partners with these communities in order to develop projects focused on providing tools for socio-economic and cultural development. One of BK's projects targets indigenous livelihoods affected by mining, promoting new technical skills to reduce dependency on mining activities. During my immersion experience, I had the opportunity to visit Jabonga, Santiago, and Anticala tribes, witnessing one of these initiatives in action. What do these three communities have in common? They all host extractive operations. Jabonga and Santiago Host rich natural resources and prospering through traditional livelihoods that provide most of the community's needs, it's important to avoid dependence on mining companies and find solutions that reduce this dependence. The ultimate aim of this visit was to set up a sewing and beading workshop for the women of the communities. As such, last December, Bantay Kita donated two (2) sewing machines to the Mamanwa & Manobo communities. The aim is to teach them how to use these machines so that they can first meet their own needs (e.g., their family's needs) and then eventually, when they are more comfortable, they can produce to sell. Like sewing products, the goal of a beading workshops is to teach them this new skill to eventually sell. Once this art is mastered, these traditional jewelry pieces hold significant value. For example, a necklace can fetch up to around 5,000 PHP. Therefore, the end goal is for them to be able to produce enough to eventually enhance their livelihood. Anticala Although this initial meeting was not a workshop like the previous ones, I still learned a lot about this community and some of BK's projects. During this meeting, I had the chance to visit part of the community's land, accompanied by people from the community itself. I was able to visit the watershed and learn more about the community's resource management and related challenges. While visiting the community, I learned more about certain livelihood projects, including tree planting across their land. This project was developed with the aim of developing agro-ecological practices to diversify crop production and, in due course, develop their livelihoods. Immersion Experience Before my initial meetings, I had certain questions in mind about some aspects. For instance, how would these activities be concretely beneficial in the long-term and integrated into their daily lives? How would cultures and traditions be taken into account in the development of these workshop? Would the communities be receptive to these workshops and sharing their experience with me, an “outsider”? However, following the meetings, I noticed several other interesting points that addressed my questions. For example, one of the first things I observed during the workshops is that they primarily focus only on women. As a matter of fact, mining activities affect many people, but often the most vulnerable are women, particularly those from indigenous communities in this context. These specific workshops focus on integrating women into development activities and providing them with equal opportunities for growth. Furthermore, I noticed that the cultural aspect had been included in the activity. For instance, not only were the activities led by two women from the Manobo tribe, but one of the workshops focused on beadwork, specifically Panuhugtuhog (Barcena, 2023), a traditional form of beadwork from the Manobo tribe. It’s a great way to ensure that cultures and traditions are respected while incorporating new skill to ensure livelihood. Apart from that, as a foreign intern, I was a bit apprehensive about how communities would respond to sharing with me, especially due to the language barrier. However, participants seemed receptive not only to participate to the workshops but also to sharing the difficulties and challenges that the communities were facing. During my visits, I also had the opportunity to visit certain places like the hot springs in Santiago and learn more about the importance of preserving natural resources, especially as a means of sustenance for these communities. I also learned more about about the resource management process and overall resource projects such as the cacao and abaca plantation which is one of the major livelihood activities. In short, despite the fact that I was a foreigner and that some subjects can be sensitive, the communities were very welcoming and didn't hesitate to share with me and seemed mostly curious. Bibliography Barcena, Nida Grace P. 2023. “Panuhugtuhog: Keeping Manobo's traditional beadworks sustainable”. PIA. https://pia.gov.ph/features/2023/08/11/panuhugtuhog-keeping-manobos-traditional-beadworks-sustainable About the author
Camille Thom is currently an intern at Bantay Kita. As of this posting, she is enrolled as a graduate student at the Université de Montréal. The Philippines joined the EITI in 2013. In February 2022, the Philippines’ Validation against the 2019 Standard found that the Philippines had achieved a “moderate” overall score in implementing the EITI Standard. In May 2023, the EITI Board agreed that a targeted assessment of EITI Requirement 1.3 on civil society engagement should be undertaken in the Philippines commencing on 1 January 2024.
In accordance with the agreed procedure, the EITI International Secretariat is seeking stakeholder views on the Philippines’ progress in implementing EITI Requirement 1.3 on civil society engagement between February 2022 and January 2024. Stakeholders are requested to send views to Gilbert Makore (GMakore@eiti.org) by 1 January 2024. The EITI Standard requires that the government, extractive companies and civil society are fully, actively and effectively engaged in EITI implementation. The Secretariat is in particular seeking views on the following questions:
Civil society engagement in the EITI will be assessed in accordance with EITI Protocol: Participation of civil society. Stakeholders are requested to provide input on the Philippines’ adherence with the protocol. Any concerns related to potential breaches of the protocol should be accompanied with a description of the related incident, including its timing, actors involved and the link to the EITI process. If available, supporting documentation should be provided. Stakeholders may also indicate which provision of the civil society protocol they consider the breach(es) to relate to. Responses will be anonymised and be kept confidential. The Secretariat is seeking views on the following questions related to civil society engagement: Are civil society organisations able to engage in public debate related to the EITI process and express opinions about the EITI process without restraint, coercion or reprisal?
For purposes of the protocol, ‘civil society representatives’ refer to civil society representatives who are substantively involved in the EITI process, including but not limited to members of the multi-stakeholder group. The ‘EITI process’ refers to activities related to preparing for EITI sign-up; MSG meetings; CSO constituency side-meetings on EITI, including interactions with MSG representatives; producing EITI Reports; producing materials or conducting analysis on EITI Reports; expressing views related to EITI activities; and expressing views related to natural resource governance. For the full details of this call, kindly check the EITI website: https://eiti.org/offers/philippines-2024-eiti-targeted-assessment-call-views-stakeholder-engagement Bantay Kita stands strong in opposing Mining Reform House Bill 8937 (Committee Report No. 720), for its deliberate measure to decrease the current mining royalties and shadowy provisions on profit-based royalties and windfall tax design. While the current mining fiscal regime lacks strong accountability measures to ensure human, environmental and economic due diligence within the Philippines’ mining industry, this proposed fiscal regime provides more protection from financial risks of mining companies and decreases wealth shares of mining host communities.
Beyond the economic externalities of the proposed mining bill, HB 8937 will also lead to the intensification of social, environmental and cultural impacts of extraction upon mining-affected communities. Salient features of House Bill 8937 include:
The increased complexity within the proposed mining fiscal regime poses detrimental consequences to exacerbating social, environmental and economic inequities across the nation. The proposed tax reforms have the potential to intensify inadequate transparency measures within mineral production and revenue agreements, calling for an increased risk of tax evasion and corruption. The Philippine mining sector contributes a minuscule 0.6% to the GDP, with large-scale mining provinces host to some of the nation’s highest poverty incidences. The alleged aim of the proposed fiscal regime is to raise national revenues within the mining industry. However, by alleviating tax burdens for corporations and dispossessing governments and local communities of their revenue share, the proposed tax reforms underline the government’s prioritization of corporate profit maximization at the expense of community livelihoods and critical ecosystems. Rapid scale-up of renewable energy remains a primary solution to addressing the climate crisis across nations and within the 2023 Philippine Energy Plan and 2023 Philippine Development Plan. A global and national energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy has called for the insatiable demand for critical minerals necessary to produce low carbon technologies. The Philippines is host to the fifth largest nickel reserves, and fourth largest copper and cobalt reserves, globally, which remain the leading raw materials for the production of green technologies. Mineral reservation areas are located in Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Palawan, and Tawi-Tawi, where the majority of the nation’s nickel reserves lie. These areas are host to some of the Philippines’ most biodiverse ecosystems yet remain amongst the most climate-vulnerable and economically marginalized. The decreased government and community shares in the proposed mining bill will challenge the current weaknesses of the government in the implementation of safeguards to protect mining-affected communities from the loss of critical ecosystems, watersheds, and livelihoods resulting from the increasing attractiveness of mining in the Philippines under the proposed mining reform and global transition mineral demand. The nation is under increasing global pressure to provide the critical minerals necessary for the energy transition, with international and domestic corporations looking to expand transition mineral mining in the Philippines to capitalize on global demands. Moreover, the Philippines contributes 0.35% to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet remains amongst the top three nations most vulnerable to climate change. The alleviation of tax burdens remains a financial incentive for domestic and foreign investors to expand rampant mining operations in the Philippines. Increases in mining operations alongside a lack of human and environmental rights due diligence will lead to the continued devastation of critical climate mitigating ecosystems, leaving mining affected communities - and the nation as a whole - increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters, livelihood loss, and food insecurity. Bantay Kita calls on the Congress to uphold public interests and reject House Bill 8937. |
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