Thursday, June 7, 2018

Duterte plans to shut down open pit mining by year’s end; will he find time to visit Marinduque's abandoned open pits?

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.




Duterte plans to shut down open pit mining by year’s end
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.