Is President Duterte also thinking about abandoned open pits such as those in Marinduque's Marcopper mine? These were abandoned after the so-called Marcopper mine disaster of 1996 that polluted the Boac River.
The episode was officially declared as a 'significant historical infamy'. Yet until today, 22 years after the disaster the heavily polluted open pit freely discharges into the rivers below and more so during storm events.
And guess what? Concerned government units and agencies are practically prevented from inspecting the site when undertaking needed inspection related to threats to lives and property. These threats such as one caused by leaks in a diversion tunnel and dams in danger of collapse have been validated by the science community.
In various forums related to irresponsible mining the Marcopper case has consistently been a favorite subject for more than two decades now, probably the most documented among all such tragedies earning for itself the title, 'poster child of irresponsible mining'.
Nothing has happened to perennial calls for environmental justice to this never-ending Marinduque saga. In spite of repeated promises and applause - whoever is sitting as President. 'O bakit kaya?....' the song goes.
By Genalyn Kabiling, Manila Bulletin
President Duterte is mulling the shutdown of open pit mining
by the end of the year if such mineral development operations don’t clean up
their act.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his departure
statement at the Ninoy International Airport before leaving for the Republic of
Korea where he is scheduled for a three-day on June 3, 2018. The President is
set to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in a summit which aims to
further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Addressing the Filipino community in South Korea, the
President admitted that he opposes open pit mining due to the damage caused on
the environment.
“Marami tayong problema. Mining – ‘yan open pit, it’s
destroying the country… Baka ipasara ko talaga ang mining na open pit [We have
many problems. Open pit mining is destroying the country… I might close down
open pit mining],” Duterte said in his remarks.
“Either we have to reinvent mining in Philippines or sarado
kayo lahat [you’ll all be shut down] by the end of the year,” he said.
Despite the huge revenues from mining operations, Duterte
said the government must make “compromise” to prevent the further degradation
of the environment caused by mining. “We have to limit destruction of the
environment,” he said.
 |
| Marcopper's open pit mine in Marinduque. Maybe just lip service and 'action' by many presidents? |
Last April, the President ordered mining firms to conduct
tree planting projects and threatened to ban open pit mining next year. The
government has banned new open pit mines last year due to the alleged
widespread destruction to the soil and environment.
