Category: Marcopper

Anti-big-scale mining coalition seeks mining law repeal

Marinduque News

Anti-big-scale mining group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) is urging the government to replace Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 with a law that is “pro-Filipino and pro-environment”. ATM claimed the present law has paved the way for plunder of the country’s mineral wealth, as well as mining-related environmental destruction. These are on top of adverse health impacts, displacement of people, and human rights abuses across the country, according to ATM national coordinator Jaybee Gerganera. “Our country didn’t benefit from RA 7942,” he said Monday (March 5)…

Cong. Velasco, DENR Secretary Cimatu discuss Marcopper issue

Romeo A. Mataac, Jr.

Cong. Lord Allan Jay Velasco of the Lone District of Marinduque paid a courtesy call to the office of Sec. Roy Cimatu of the Department and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on January 25, 2018. Congressman Velasco expressed his concern over the present condition of the structures left by Marcopper Mining Corporation in the province and the need to address the structural breaches in the mines and dams at the old mining site. Twenty years after Marcopper Mining disaster, the structures still pose an immediate threat to the life and…

DOH starts rehabilitation project in Marcopper affected areas in Marinduque

DOH - Mimaropa

Department of Health (DOH) – MIMAROPA (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) started its post disaster program for the rehabilitation of Mine-out Areas in Marinduque through the establishment of Carbon Neutral Garden and Oxygen Park among Marcopper affected municipalities in the Province of Marinduque. “We have to act now! Because an immediate response to any disaster is vital in maximizing the number of people, property and resources that could be saved,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated during the opening of the Beema Bamboo Nursery at the Marinduque State College (MSC)…

CA denies Marcopper Mining appeal not to pay taxes owed Marinduque

Marinduque News

The Court of Appeals (CA) has denied the motion filed by Marcopper Mining Corp. (Marcopper) asking the court to revisit its decision issued last year that affirmed the order of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Marinduque directing the mining firm to pay its realty-tax liabilities based on the 1993 Schedule of Market Values (SMV) as approved by the provincial government. In a four-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Romeo Barza, the CA’s Special Former Special First Division said it found no merit in the motion for reconsideration filed by…

NGO Forum wants ADB stripped of immunity from suit

Marinduque News

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) must be stripped of its immunity and held liable for all the environmental destruction caused by projects funded under its portfolio, a civil society organization (CSO) umbrella group said Tuesday. “We have decided to take on the immunity itself which is an outside challenge to the institution,” Rayyan Hassan, executive director of the NGO Forum on ADB, said. The NGO Forum on Tuesday formally launched its book, “A Visual Testimony of the Asian Development Bank’s 50 Years of Destruction,” in Quezon City. The immunity of…

Abandonadong minahan sa Mogpog at Santa Cruz nais gawing ecotourism area ng DENR

Adrian Sto. Domingo

BOAC, Marinduque – Matapos personal na makita ni Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Regina “Gina” Lopez ang naging epekto ng malawakang pagbaha ng tailings ng Marcopper sa ilog ng Mogpog at Boac, nais ng kanilang ahensya na gawin ang mga abandonadong minahan bilang ecotourism destination. Ayon kay Lopez, makatutulong ang biochar upang mapanumbalik ang katabaan ng lupa sa pamamagitan ng uling. Epektibo umano ang ganitong pamamaraan upang muling mapagtaniman ang napabayaang lugar at malaki ang maaaring maitulong nito sa organikong pagsasaka. Bukod pa rito, malaki rin ang…

Remembering the Marcopper mine disaster on its 21st anniversary

Romeo A. Mataac, Jr.

The Marcopper Mining Disaster occurred on March 24, 1996, on the Philippine island of Marinduque, a province of the Philippines located in the Mimaropa region. It remains one of the largest mining disasters in Philippine history. This disaster at the Marcopper Mines on Marinduque made headlines around the world. Here is Marcopper’s timeline. 1969 – Marcopper starts operation of the Tapian open pit mines 1975 to 1991 – Marcopper dumps 200 million tons of mine tailings to Calancan Bay. 1990 – With the Tapian pit depleted, Marcopper opens a second…

Hiling na ‘authority’ ni Reyes, disaprub; Nepomuceno, inalisan ng komite

Romeo A. Mataac, Jr.

BOAC, Marinduque – Sa nangyaring sesyon nitong Miyerkules, Marso 22, tuluyan ng ibinasura ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque ang kahilingan ni Gov. Carmencita Reyes na mabigyan ito ng ‘authority’ upang pumasok sa kasunduan sa pagitan ng pamahalang panlalawigan at Diamond McCarthy Law Firm bilang legal counsel, sa Parabellum Capital para sa funding agreement at sa Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottieb Law Firm bilang local retainer sa kasong isasampa sa bansang Canada laban sa Placer Dome at Barrick Gold kaugnay ng patuloy na paghahabol ng hustisya sa pinsalang tinamo ng lalawigan sa…