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M in in g P o llu t io n : th e C a s e o f th e B a g u io M i n i n g

Distr ict , the Phi l ippines

N IC OME D E S D . B R ION E S

Environment and Pol icy Inst i tu te

E a s t - W e s t C e n te r

Honolu lu , Hawai i 96848, USA

ABSTRACT / Env i ronmen ta l p rob lems caused by improper

mine ta i l ings d isposal in the Baguio d ist r ic t inc lude pol lu t ion

o f the Lower Agn o R ive r sys tem and i ts wa te rshed and s i lta -

t ion of i r r igat ion canals in the Pangasinan p la ins. Direct eco-

nomic losses a re from reduced ag r icu l tu ra l p roduc tion due to

s i l ta t ion of i r r igat ion works and farmlands. To check the ad-

ve rse eco log ica l e f fec ts o f improper mine ta i l i ngs d isposa l ,

gove rnmen t regu la t ions have been imposed on min ing f i rms .

Several d isposa l scheme s have been p roposed , inc lud ing

the use o f the rese rvo i r o f a mu l t ipu rpose p ro jec t to be s i ted

in the wa te rshed w here the mines a re loca ted . Becau se o f

s i l ta t ion problems, however , t rapping the ta i l ings in the reser-

vo i r w i l l d imin ish the econ omic bene f i t s tha t can be de r ived

from the pro ject .

T h e P h i l ip p i n e s is c o n s i d e r e d o n e o f t h e w o r l d 's

h i g h l y m i n e r a l i z e d c o u n t r i e s i n t e r m s o f m i n e r a l s p e r

u n i t a r e a o f la n d . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e c o u n t r y h a s t h e

w o r l d ' s l a r g e s t d e p o s i t s o f c h r o m i t e a n d o n e o f t h e

r i ches t n icke l rese rves . The to ta l minera l rese rves of

the Phi l ipp ines i s e s t imated a t 36 .2 b i l l ion met r i c tons

( M T ) , 6 6 % o f w h i c h i s a c c o u n t e d f o r b y n o n m e t a l l i c

o r e r e s e r v e s a n d t h e r e m a i n i n g 3 4 % b y m e t a l l i c r e -

se rves (NEE P 1983) . A t present , mos t of the m ining

a c t i v i t i e s a r e c o n c e n t r a t e d i n L u z o n ' s B a g u i o M i n i n g

Dis tr ic t , whe re metal l ic reserve s suc h as . gold, s ilver ,

a n d c o p p e r a r e t h e l a r g e s t i n t h e n a t i o n .

T h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y h a s a lw a y s b e e n a m a j o r c o n -

t r i b u t o r t o n a t i o n a l e c o n o m i c g r o w t h a n d d e v e l o p -

me nt . I t s s igni f icance li es in it s con t r ibut ion to employ -

m e n t , c a p i t a l a c c u m u l a t i o n , a n d f o r e i g n e x c h a n g e

e a r n i n g s . F o r a d e v e l o p i n g P h i l i p p in e e c o n o m y , t h e

m i n i n g s e c t o r i s a n i n d i s p e n s a b l e s o u r c e o f f u n d s t o

i m p r o v e t h e c o u n t r y ' s b a l a n c e o f p a y m e n t s . A l t h o u g h

i t accounted for l e s s than 2% o f t h e n e t d o m e s t i c

p r o d u c t , t h e a n n u a l c o n t r i b u t i o n o f m i n i n g a s a s o u r ce

o f f o r e i g n e x c h a n g e e a r n i n g s w a s a b o u t 1 8% o f t h e

t o t a l r e c e ip t s f o r t h e p e r i o d o f 1 9 7 1 - 1 9 8 4 ( N E D A

1 9 85 ). T h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e P h i l ip p i n e m i n i n g s h a r e i s

d e r i v e d f r o m t h e e x p o r t s o f c o p p e r c o n c e n t r a t e s, g o ld ,

i r o n o r e, a n d c h r o m e o r e .

W h i l e t h e i n d u s t r y h a s b r o u g h t e c o n o m i c b e n e f i t s ,

i t has a l so t aken i t s to l l on the envi ronment . In 1977,

t h e r e w e r e 3 9 m i n i n g f i r m s d i s p e r s e d a l o n g t h e m a j o r

r ive r bas ins of the Ph i l ipp ines . Of these , 24 mines were

a c t i v e m i n e r a l - p r o d u c i n g f i r m s g e n e r a t i n g 220,000

M T o f r a w o r e d a il y. A b o u t 1 4 0 ,0 0 0 M T o f m i n e

ta i l ings were be ing d i scharged da i ly in to e ight r ive rs ,

KEY WO RDS: Mine p ollution; Wa ter quality; Watershed management;

Siltation; Min e tailings

c o n s e q u e n t ly d a m a g i n g a b o u t 1 9 0, 00 0 h a o f f a r m l a n d s

(Villavicencio 1977). As the ta i lings are t ra ns po rte d

d o w n t h e s t r e a m s a n d r i v e r s , t h e b e d s b e c o m e s h a l -

l o w e r , le a d i n g t o o v e r f l o w i n g w i t h c o n s e q u e n t

f l o o d i n g o f t h e o u t l y i n g a r ea s . T h e t a il in g s a c c u m u l a t e

a t lower e l eva t ions and c log i r r iga t ion cana l s , r ice f i e lds,

and rese rvoi r s .

I t h a s b e e n r e c o g n i z e d t h a t p o l l u t i o n a n d s i l t a t i o n

o f m a i n r i v e r s y s te m s w i t h in t h e i m m e d i a t e v i c in i ty o f

mine s i t e s of Baguio Mining Dis t r i c t i s due to im-

proper d i sposa l of mine t a i l ings . Thi s a r t i c l e d i scus ses

t h e p r o b l e m s a n d e c o n o m i c i m p l ic a t io n s o f m i n i n g

p o l l u t i o n i n t h e h i g h l y m i n e r a l i z e d a r e a i n B a g u i o , t h e

Phi l ippines . A l t e rna t ive mine was te d i sposa l methods ,

i n c l u d i n g t h e u s e o f t h e p r o p o s e d r e s e r v o i r o f t h e S a n

R o q u e M u l t i p u r p o s e P r o j e c t a s a d u m p i n g s i t e , a r e

a l so presented .

T h e B a g u i o M i n i n g D i s t r i c t

I n a n a r e a o f a f e w k i lo m e t e r s s o u t h e a s t o f B a g u i o

C i t y i n L u z o n is a m i n i n g s i te w h i c h is d r a i n e d b y t h e

Tw in R iver , a tr ibu ta ry of the b ig Agn o R iver . I t li es in

a m o u n t a i n o u s r e g i o n c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y s h a r p e d g e s

an d s t eep s lopes . Thi s a rea i s co ll ec tive ly des ig na ted as

the Baguio Mining Dis t r i c t , which i s cons idered as the

m o s t i m p o r t a n t a n d p r o d u c t i v e m i n i n g a r e a i n t h e

Phi l ippines (F igures 1-3) . Severa l ac t ive mines and

m i n e p r o s p e c t s a r e c l u s t e r e d a l o n g a n o r t h - s o u t h

t r e n d i n g b e lt w i t h a n a p p r o x i m a t e a r e a o f 2 6 0 k m 2.

T h e m o s t c o m m o n p r o b l e m s o f th e m i n e s in t h e

di s t r i c t i s how to d i spose o f the m ine t a i l ings prope r ly .

A f t e r o r e m i l l i n g a n d c o n c e n t r a t i o n , t h e m i n e s d i s -

charge the ra i l ings in to ne ighbor ing c reeks ; thus ,

d o w n s t r e a m o f t h e m i n e s a ll st r e a m s a r e p o l l u t e d t o

v a r y i n g d e g r e e s . T h e t o t a l d a i ly to n n a g e o f d i s c h a r g e d

Environmental Manag emen tVol. 11, No. 3, pp. 335 -344 9 1987 Springer-VerlagNew York Inc.



3 3 6 N.D. Briones

BaguioMineralDistrict

0 50 1fib 150 200 250 Krrl

IN

O

- - 1 7 ~

C~

Z

N 15~

Figure 1. Location map o f the B aguio

Mining D istrict, Luzon, the Philip*

pines.

Figure 2. Aerial view of a typical mining site, Baguio M ining

District, The Philippines.

Figure 3. Aerial view of mining roads, Baguio Mining Dis-

trict, The Philippines.

mine tai l ings is approximately 50,000 MT and is ex-

pected to increase in the coming years. This quanti ty,

which f lows into the Agno River and other nearby

creeks, has caused a considerable amount of damage

to the agr icultural system and aquatic resources. M ine

pollution in the area affects four r iver systems and

hundreds of thousands of hec ta res of f a rms in the

lowland areas of the provinces of Pangasinan, La

Union, and I locos Sur (Table 1) .

Philex Mines, the largest company operating in the

distr ict , star ted operation in 1958 and by 1983 had

3000 employees. The mine, which uses the block-

caving mining method , has a r emaining l i fespan of 40

years. The rai l ings produced by this mine represent

90% of the total rai l ings volume produced within the

Lower Agno River wate r shed and near ly 80% of the

overall ore or tai l ing volum e mine d in the Baguio Dis-

tr ict . At present, Philex Mines ' ta i lings are im pou nd ed

in two company-constructed tai l ing dams that are

be ing gradua l ly bui l t up on a r ight bank t r ibuta ry of



Mining Pollut ion in the Phil ippines 337

Table 1. R ive r systems af fected by m ines, Ba guio Mining Dist ric t.

Quan tity of tailings River system ProvinceMining company produced daily (MT) affected affected

Philex Mines 27,000 Agn o PangasinanWestern Minolco 14,000 Am buray an Ilocos SurBaguio Gold 7,400 Ambu rayan La Un ionBlack Mountain, Inc.b 2,470 Bued La UnionBen guet Consolidated, Inc. 1,974 Agno PangasinanLep anto Consolidated 835 Ab ra Ilocos SurItogo n-Su yoc Mines 120 Agno PangasinanAto k- B ig Wedgec 100 Agn o PangasinanBenguet Explorat ion 87 Bued La Union

Not operating since November 1977.

b Suspended operations n 1983.

c Not o perating since 1976.

t h e A g n o R i v e r. T h e s e t w o d a m s w il l r e a c h c a p a c it y b y1 9 8 7 . T h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a t h i r d d a m w a s s t a r t e d i n

1978 but i t was s toppe d in 1979 because o f the gove rn-

m e n t ' s p l a n t o c o n s t r u c t a m u l t i p u r p o s e r e s e r v o i r

d o w n s t r e a m t o i m p o u n d m i l l r a i l i n g s f r o m t h e m i n e s

i n t h e w a t e r s h e d .

M i n e T a i l i n g s D i s p o s a l

T h e t h r e e t a i l i n g s d i s p o s a l m e a s u r e s g e n e r a l l y

a d o p t e d b y t h e c o u n t r y ' s m i n i n g c o m p a n i e s a r e ( a) d i -

rect disposal to the sea, lakes , or r ivers , (b) backfi l l

m e t h o d , a n d ( c ) t a i l i n g s - p o n d m e t h o d .

Direct Disposal to the S ea, Rivers, and Lakes

T he t a i lings a re d i rec t ly d i sposed in to the s ea,

r i v e r s , o r l a k e s b y m e a n s o f p i p e l i n e s a n d l a u n d e r s

(box condui t s conveying par t i cu la te mate r i a l s sus -

p e n d e d i n w a t e r i n o r e d r e s si n g ) . S u s p e n s io n s o f s o li d s

i n w a t e r b o d i e s c a n a f f e c t a n d d e s t r o y a q u a t i c li f e a n d

f i sher ies . I f wa te r i s tu rb id wi th suspe nd ed so l ids , pho-

t o s y n t h e si s b y p h y t o p l a n k t o n s c a n t a k e p l a c e o n l y n e a r

t h e s u r f a c e , s o t h a t p r i m a r y p r o d u c t i o n w il l b e d r a s ti -

c a ll y r e d u c e d ( H o l m e 1 97 8 ). U l t im a t e l y , f i sh a n d o t h e r

a q u a t i c o r g a n i s m s t h a t d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y d e p e n d o nplanktons a re a l so a f fec ted . However , d i sposa l to the

sea seems to be the accepted so lu t ion in the Phi l ip-

p ines . The b igges t mine in the count ry (At las Consol i -

d a t e d M i n i n g C o m p a n y ) d i s p o s es m o s t o f its t a il in g s to

t h e s e a . T h e f i r m h a s d e s i g n e d , c o n s t r u c t e d , a n d n o w

s u c c e ss f u ll y o p e r a t e s a 4 7 - k m s y s t em o f p i p e l in e s a n d

o p e n l a u n d e r s o r f l u m e s f o r t r a n s p o r t i n g t a i li n g s b y

gravi ty to the s ea (Gaddi 1981) .

Backf i ll M ethod

T h e t a i l i n g s a r e u s e d a s f i l l i n g s f o r u n d e r g r o u n d

o p e n i n g s t h a t a r e m i n e d o u t o r n o l o n g e r i n u s e . B y

th i s prac t ice , which i s succes s fu l ly be ing ado pte d b yB e n g u e t M i n i n g C o r p o r a t io n , 6 0 % o f t h e g e n e r a t e d

t ai li n gs a r e r e c o v e re d a n d r e t u r n e d u n d e r g r o u n d .

K e n n e c o t t C o p p e r C o r p o r a t i o n i n t h e U S A a l s o u s e s

th i s method (Mante l l 1975) . However , th i s sys tem i s

l im i t e d to u n d e r g r o u n d s lo p i n g m in e s a n d n o t a p p li -

c a b l e i n o t h e r u n d e r g r o u n d m i n i n g m e t h o d s s u c h a s

b l o c k - c a v i n g , w h e r e o r e e x t r a c t i o n i s e n o r m o u s ( B u g -

nosen 1981) .

Containmen t in Tai l ing Ponds

Th is i s the m os t wide ly used t a i lings d i sposa l sys tem

in the Baguio d i s t r i c t . The t a i l ings a re d i rec ted in to ap o n d c o n s t r u c t e d w i t h t h e u s e o f d a m s o r d i k e s

( F i g u r e s 4 - 7 ) . T a i l i n g s d a m s a r e g e n e r a l l y b u i l t b y

u s i n g t h e c o a r s e s a n d c o m p o n e n t o f t h e t a i l i n g s t o

f o r m t h e e m b a n k m e n t . T h e r a i l i n g s p a r t i c l e s s e t t l e

w h i l e th e d e c a n t e d e f f l u e n t is a ll o w e d t o f l o w in t o t h e

d r a i n a g e s y s t e m o r s o m e t i m e s r e c y c l e d . T h i s m e t h o d

has s evera l d i s advantages . Fa i lure to proper ly main-

t a in the dams can resu l t i n t a i l ings escaping in to the

n a t u r a l d r a i n a g e s y s t em a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y i n t o th e i r ri -

g a t i o n ca n a l s a n d f a r m l a n d s a n d o t h e r i n f r a s t r u c t u r e s .

S t r o n g s t o r m e v e n t s c a n c a u s e w a s h o u t s o f t h e t a i li n g s

d a m s .T h e t a i l i n g s c o m i n g f r o m t h e m i n e p r o c e s s i n g

p l a n t s i n t h e B a g u i o M i n i n g D i s t ri c t a r e c o n v e y e d b y

m e a n s o f g r a v i t y l a u n d e r s t o r a il in g s p o n d s f o r m e d b y

d a m m i n g n e a r b y c r e e k s . T h e t a i l i n g s d a m s a r e r a i s e d

g r a d u a l l y , w i t h t h e p r e c i s e p a t t e r n f o l lo w i n g t h e i n -

c r e a s e o f s e d i m e n t l e ve l i n t h e p o n d . D i v e r si o n w o r k s

a n d t u n n e l s d i v e r t t h e n a t u r a l r i v e r f l o w a n d f l o o d s

f r o m t h e c r e ek s u p s t r e a m o f t h e p o n d s t o a v o id o v er -

t o p p i n g o f t h e d a m s a n d s o f te n i n g o f t h e s e d im e n t s.

H o w e v e r , t h e s e d a m s s u f f e r o c c a s i o n a l c o l l a p s e s d u e

to s t rong ra ins tha t preva i l in the a rea , e spec ia l ly

d u r i n g t h e r a i n y s e a so n . A t p r e s e n t , a la r g e v o l u m e o f



338 N.D. Briones

Figure 4. A mine tailings pond that is almost filled up to

capacity.Figure 5, Aerial view of a tailings pond , Bag uio Mining Dis-

trict, The Philippines.

Figure 6. Aerial view (downstream side) of a tailings dam. A Figure 7. Upstream aerial view of the railings dam and reser-

bulldozer is piling up the tailings to increase the dam's height, voir.

mine tai l ings is being released and reaches the Agno

River, thus heavily polluting its waters.

The construct ion of a rai l ings dam is cost ly for the

mining companies and i s therefore carr ied out wi th

extremely l imited investment . The stabi l i ty of the

rai l ings dana therefore is very uncertain, and the

ponds represent a serious threat to public projects and

pr ivate proper t ies dow nst ream.

Ecological Effects of Improper Mine

Tailings Disposal

All mi nin g activities cre ate a n imba lance in the envi-

ronment by a l ter ing landforms and phys iography,

disrupting the hydrologic cycle, and discharging

wastes into the rivers and pollut ing them with toxic

wastes. Mineral dev elop men t activi ties such as the ex-

cavat ions in open-pi t mining, block-caving, ground

preparat ion , including cons t ruct ion of roads and

building facilities, inevitably disturb the environment.

Mil l ing operat ions produce tai l ings, which, i f not

prop erly disposed, could easi ly find the ir way into nat-

ural river systems, resul t ing in the sedimentat ion of

r iverbeds and agr icu l tural l ands . When rocks and

wastes are du mp ed to lower levels , t rees are usual ly cut

down or bur ied . T he heavy-metal compon ents of the

wastes are subject to leaching and can adversely influ-

ence water qual i ty. Acid water is also an undesirable

discharge f rom the mines .

Mill tail ings provide a host i le env ironm ent to plants

because they are deficient in important soi l nutrients ,

have excessive sal ts a nd heavy phytotoxicants , and lack

microbial populat ions; moreover, physical damage is

caused by unconsol idated sands that , when wind

blown, destroy young plants and seedlings. Mil l

tai l ings are also toxic and destruct ive to much aquatic

l i fe, because of the effects of heavy metals , reagents ,

and suspended sol ids.



Mining Pol lut ion in the Phi l ippines 339

Ta ble 2. i r r igat ion systems af fected by mine ta i lings.

Estimated Volume of

Total volume of mine tailings

service Irrigated mine tailings per meter

Irrigation area area in irrigation of canal

system (ha) (ha) canals (m s) (m3/m)

Agn o 18,509 12,095 509,093 3.20 a

Lower Agn o 8,001 7,515 42,846 3.75 b

Bued 2,766 2,766 33,606 c

Ambur ayan 3,705 3,553 57,463 0.33 d

a Based on samples taken from 3 main canal s and 1:3 lateral canals.

b Based on samples taken from 6 lateral canals.

c Not available.

d Based on samples taken from 2 main canals and 2 lateral canals.

Agr icul tural Product ion Loss

D o w n s t r e a m o f t h e m i n e s i t e s i s a p r o d u c t i v e a n d

h e a v i l y p o p u l a t e d a r e a s c o l l ec t iv e l y k n o w n a s t h e P a n -g a s i n a n P l a i n s, o c c u p y i n g b o t h b a n k s o f t h e A g n o

R i v e r . R i c e i s t h e p r i m a r y c r o p i n t h e a r e a w i t h c o r n ,

t o b a c c o , m u n g b e a n , a n d p e a n u t a s s e c o n d a r y c r o p s .

Y i e l d s a r e g e n e r a l l y l o w d u e m a i n l y t o u n d e p e n d a b l e

s u p p l y a n d l o w q u a li t y o f ir r i g a t i o n w a t e r ( N I A 1 98 3) .

I n t h i s a r e a , t h e N a t i o n a l I r r i g a t i o n A d m i n i s t r a t i o n

( N I A ) o p e r a t e s s e v e r a l i r r i g a t i o n s y s t e m s c o v e r i n g a

s e r v i c e a r e a o f 3 3 , 0 0 0 h a . T h e c a n a l n e t w o r k o f t h e

i r r i g a t i o n s y s t e m s i s , a t p r e s e n t , i n r a t h e r p o o r c o n d i -

t i o n b e c a u s e o f o p e ra t i o n s a n d m a i n t e n a n c e p r o b l e m s

d u e to h eav y s i l t a t io n cau sed b y min e r a i l in g s , as

s h o w n i n T a b l e 2 ( N I A 1 9 8 3 ) .T h e A g n o R i v e r I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m ( t h e l a r g e s t i r r i -

g a t i o n s y s t e m a f f e c t e d b y m i n e p o l l u t i o n ) s t a r t e d

o p e r a t i o n i n 1 9 5 8 a n d h a s a t o t a l s e r v i c e a r e a o f

1 8 ,5 0 9 h a , 3 5 % o f w h i c h i s u n i r r i g a t e d d u e t o s il t a ti o n

f r o m m i n e t a il in g s. I t i s a d i v e r s i o n - g r a v i ty t y p e t h a t

g e t s i ts w a t e r f r o m t h e A g n o R i v e r t h r o u g h a d i v e rs i o n

w e i r d o w n s t r e a m o f t h e m i n e s a t S a n R o q u e g o r g e .

T h e s e d i m e n t - l a d e n w a t e r o f t h e r i v er h a d b r o u g h t

m a i n t e n a n c e p r o b l e m s t o a b o u t 5 2 % o f t h e 2 2 2 .2 7 k m

o f main can a l an d la te r a l s o f th i s sy s tem. As ea r ly as

1 9 6 3 s e d i m e n t a t i o n o f t h e c a n a l s w a s a l r e a d y a b i g

p r o b l e m . O n t h e b a s is o f d a t a c o l l e c te d a t a c r o ss s e c-t i o n o f t h e m a i n c a n a l , 2 k m f r o m t h e d i v e r s i o n h e a d -

g a t e, a n a n n u a l a v e r a g e o f 45 0 ,0 0 0 M T o f s e d i m e n t

w e r e b e i n g d e p o s i t e d a l o n g t h e c a n a l s a n d f a r m a r e a s

s e r v e d b y th i s i r r i g a t i o n s y s te m ( S a d d a m a n d P r o s p e r o

1 9 6 3 ) . S a n d f r o m t h e r i v e r h a d b e e n t r a c e d t o t h e f a r -

t h e s t l a te r al s. T h e e x t e n t o f d a m a g e t o t h e A g n o R i v e r

I r r ig a t io n Sy s tem in 1 9 7 7 was es t imated a t a lo s s o f

2 5 % o f i t s d e s i g n e d c a p a c i t y b e c a u s e o f s i l t i n g a t t h e

i n t a k e s t r u c t u r e ( P e t e r s a n d K i t c h i n g 1 9 7 8 ) .

B y 1 9 7 8 , t h e a n n u a l d a m a g e a t t r i b u t a b l e t o m i n e

t a il i n gs h a d b e e n e s t i m a t e d t o b e U S $ 5 . 7 5 m i l li o n , U S

$ 8 . 4 9 m i l l i o n , a n d U S $ 8 9 6 0 f o r A m b u r a y a n R i v e r I r -

Tab le 3 . Losses du e to m ine ta il ings s i l ta t ion o f

i r r igat ion systems (1978 pr ices) .

Ann ual loss (million US$)

Cause Am burayan Agno Bued

Loss due to silting of canals(rehabilitation) (1 970 -1977) 0.20

Loss due to uncollectedirrigation fees (1970-1977) 0.06

Loss due to crop yieldreduction (1970-1977) 4 .44

Loss due to the inability toirrigate parts of theservice area (1970-1977)

To ta l

1.73 0.009 a

0.36 __b

6.36c b

1.05 0.04c b

5.75 8 . 49 0 .009

a F o r t h e p e r i o d 1 9 7 3 - 1 9 7 7 .

b N o e s t i m a m s m a d e .

~ F o r t h e p e r i o d 1 9 7 6 - 1 9 7 7 .

r i g a t i o n S y s t e m , A g n o R i v e r I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m , a n d

B u e d R i v e r I r r i g a t i o n S y s t e m , r e s p e c t i v e ly ( N I A 1 9 78 )

( T a b l e 3 ) . T h e l os s es h a d b e e n a t t r i b u t e d t o s i lt a t io n o f

can a ls , c ro p y ie ld r ed u c t io n , in ab i l i ty to i r r ig a te th e

s e r v i ce a r e a , a n d u n c o l l e c t e d i r r i g a t io n f e e s . T h e t o t a l

f a r m a r e a a f f e c t e d w a s 1 2 2 ,7 5 7 h a l o c a t e d in t h e p r o v -

i n c e s o f P a n g a s i n a n , L a U n i o n , a n d I l o c o s S u r .

I n f r e s h u n w e a t h e r e d f o r m , t h e m i l l t a il i ng s c o n t a i n

v ery l i tt l e as s imi lab le p lan t n u t r ie n ts an d in th e r ice -f i e l d s w h e r e s u c h s e d i m e n t s a r e d e p o s i t e d a n d m i x e d

w i t h t h e e x i s t i n g s o i l b y p l o w i n g a n d h a r r o w i n g , t h e

s o il fe r t i li t y h a d d i m i n i s h e d e v e r y y e a r . T h e c o n s e -

q u e n c e s o f u n c o n t r o l l e d i r r i g a t i o n w a t e r s i l t a t i o n b y

m i n e w a s t e s h a v e b e e n d e t e r m i n e d b y s e v e r a l s t u d i e s

(M ercad o 1 9 7 4 , Su l l iv en 1 9 6 7 ) . M in e was tes h av e h ig h

ac id i ty an d d is so lv ed so l id s th a t p o l lu te i r r ig a t io n

wate r , wh ich r esu l t s in wate r wh ich i s s l ig h t ly to x ic to

p l a n t g r o w t h . T h e l o w e r p H c h a n g e s t h e s t a b i l i t y a n d

m o b i l i t y o f n u m e r o u s e l e m e n t s a n d s al ts i n t h e s o il . I n

a d d i t i o n , c o n t i n u o u s s i l t a t i o n h a s r a i s e d t h e e l e v a t i o n

o f t h e f a r m s s o t h a t t h e y r e q u i r e l e v e l i n g t o i n s u r ep r o p e r d i s t r i b u t i o n o f ir r i g a t i o n w a t e r.

B a s e d o n t h e p o p u l a t i o n w h o s e l i ve l ih o o d d e p e n d s

d i r e c t l y o n a g r i c u l t u r e i n t h e a r e a , c a l c u la t i o n s i n d i c a t e

t h a t t h e n u m b e r o f p e o p l e a d v e r s el y a ff e c t e d in 1 98 0

b y th ese min e ta i l in g s was ab o u t 1 4 6 ,0 0 0 .

Hydrob io log ica l E f fec ts

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e e f f e c t s o n a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c -

t iv i ty , min e ta i l in g s a l so ad v er se ly a f f ec t th e micro b io -

l o g i c a l r e g i m e o f t h e L o w e r A g n o R i v e r . I n a f i s h e r y

s u r v e y c o n d u c t e d i n a p r o p o s e d d a m s i t e ( B F A R 1 98 3),

id en t i f ied f i sh sp ec ies su ch as g o b ies , ee l s , mu d f ish ,



340 N.D. Briones

b l a c k b as s, a n d t il a p ia w e r e f o u n d t o b e v e r y r a re . O f

t h e n i n e s p e c i e s o f p h y t o p l a n k t o n i d e n t i f i e d , o n l y

t h r e e s p ec i es w e r e c o n s i d e r e d a b u n d a n t w h i l e t h e r e s t

a r e r a r e . A l l o f t h e f o u r k i n d s o f z o o p l a n k t o n s i d e n ti -

f i e d w e r e r a r e . V i r tu a l l y n o f l o a t i n g , e m e r g e n t , o rs u b m e r g e d a q u a t i c v e g e t a t i o n h a s b e e n f o u n d .

T h e a b s e n c e o f a b u n d a n t f i sh a n d o t h e r f o r m s o f

aqua t i c l i fe i s a t t r ibu ted to the h igh wate r turb id i ty

c a u s e d b y g r e a t a m o u n t s o f f in e s u s p e n d e d s e d im e n t s

f r o m t h e m i n e r a ili ng s. T h e t u r b i d i t y r e d u c e s l i g h t

pen e t ra t io n a nd l imi t s the p hoto synth e t i c ac tivi ti es o f

t h e p h y t o p l a n k t o n s . T h e r e s u l t i n g d e c r e a s e o f m i c r o -

b i al p o p u l a t i o n a d v e r s e l y a f f e c ts t h e h i g h e r f o r m s o f

aqua t i c l i fe , e spec ia l ly f i sh tha t d i rec t ly depend on

p l a n k t o n s f o r s u s t e n a n c e .

Government Po l ic ies on Mine Ta i l ings DisposalW h i l e g o v e r n m e n t c o n c e r n c o v e r s a l l m i n i n g o p e r -

a t ions in the Phi l ipp ines , i t has been more or l e s s fo-

c u s e d o n t h e d e g r a d a t i o n c a u s e d b y t h e m i n i n g o p e r a -

t ions in the Bagnio Mining Dis t r i c t . Because of the ex-

t e n t o f p o l l u t i o n a n d s i l t a t i o n c a u s e d b y t h e m i n i n g

indus t r i es , P res ident i a l Decree (PD) no . 463 , known as

t h e M i n e r a l R e s o u r c e s D e v e l o p m e n t D e c r e e o f 1 9 7 4 ,

w a s i s s u e d d e f i n i n g t h e g o v e r n m e n t p o l i c i e s o n m i n e

ta i l ings d i sposa l , minera l conserva t ion , rehabi l i t a t ion

o f m i n e d - o u t a r e a s , s a f e t y , a n d s o c i o e c o n o m i c d e v e l -

o p m e n t i n m i n i n g a r e a s . T h i s d e c r e e w a s f u r t h e r

a m e n d e d b y P D n o s. 1 3 8 5 a n d 1 67 7 . A m o n g t h e sa -

l i en t fea tures of the d ecree a re (a) the submis s ion by

m i n i n g f i r m s o f t h e i r l o n g - t e r m p l a n s f o r t h e p r o t e c -

t io n a n d e n h a n c e m e n t o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t , ( b ) t h e i m -

p l e m e n t a t i o n o f a w o r k p r o g r a m d e s i g n e d t o r eh a b i li -

t a te , r e g e n e r a t e o r r e v e g e t a t e m i n e d - o u t a re a s , a n d ( c )

t h e p r o v i s i o n o f a p p r o p r i a t e p o l l u t i o n c o n t r o l m e a -

s u r es t o p r e v e n t f u r t h e r d a m a g e t o t h e e n v i r o n m e n t .

I n o r d e r t h a t t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e d e c r e e c an b e

i m p l e m e n t e d p r o p e r l y , t h e m i n i n g f ir m s a re r e q u i r e d

t o p u t u p a n " e n v i r o n m e n t p ro t e c ti o n a n d e n h a n c e -

m en t u ni t " a nd to a l loca te a t l eas t 1/2% of the to ta l

y e a r ly o p e r a t in g b u d g e t t o f i n a n c e th e e n v i r o n m e n t a l

pro tect ion activit ies .

P r e s i d e n ti a l D e c r ee n o . 1 1 5 1 (a s a m e n d e d b y P D

1586) was i s sued in 1977 requi r ing the submis s ion of

E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t S t a t e m e n t s ( E I S ) w h i c h a i m

p r i m a r i l y t o i d e n t if y , p re d i c t , in t e r p r e t , a n d c o m m u n i -

c a t e i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e c h a n g e s i n e n v i r o n -

m e n t a l q u a l i t y a s s o ci a te d w i t h a p r o p o s e d p r o j e c t a n d

t o e x a m i n e t h e r a n g e o f a lt e r n a ti v e s f o r t h e o b j e c ti v e

o f t h e p r o p o s a l a n d i t s i m p a c t o n t h e e n v i r o n m e n t .

U n d e r t h i s s y s t e m , a c o m p a n y p r o p o s i n g a m i n i n g

p r o j e c t t h a t h a s s i g n i f i c a n t e f f e ct s o n t h e e n v i r o n m e n t

m u s t p r e p a r e a n E I S t h a t w o u l d i d e n t i f y e x i s ti n g e n v i-

r o n m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e p r o p o s e d p r o j e c t s i t e a n d

f u r t h e r m o r e w o u l d c o n t a i n m i t ig a t in g m e a s u r e s t o b e

u n d e r t a k e n i n t h e c o u r s e o f o p e r a ti o n s t o p r o t ec t t h e

e n v i r o n m e n t . T h i s f u n c t i o n i s u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n

o f t h e N a t i o n a l E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n C o u n c i l(NEPC) , a publ i c agency c rea ted pr imar i ly to as sure

t h e p e o p l e o f a s af e , d e c e n t , h e a l t h f u l , a n d p r o d u c t i v e

e n v i r o n m e n t .

S e v e r a l g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s h a v e b e e n m o b i l i z e d

t o s a f e g u a r d t h e e n v i r o n m e n t f r o m m i n i n g p o l l u t i o n

an d spec i fi ca lly to des ig n pr og ram s to so lve the ra i lings

p r o b l e m s i n t h e B a g n i o d i st ri c t. T h e s e i n c l u d e t h e N a -

t i o n a l P o l l u t i o n C o n t r o l C o m m i s s i o n , t h e M i n i s t r y o f

P u b l ic W o r k s a n d H i g h w a y s , N a t i o n a l P o w e r C o r p o r a -

t i o n , N a t i o n a l I r r i g a t i o n A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , a n d t h e

B u r e a u o f M i n e s a n d G e o s c i e n c e s . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

f r o m t h e m i n i n g c o m p a n i e s o p e r a t i n g i n t h e d i s t r i c tw o r k t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e s e a g e n ci e s.

Proposals to Dispose of Mine Ta i l ings

T o f i n d a p e r m a n e n t s o l u t i o n t o m i n e t a i l i n g s d i s -

p o s a l i n t h e B a g n i o M i n i n g D i s t r i c t , t h e g o v e r n m e n t

has sought the as s i s t ance of s evera l in t e rna t iona l orga-

n i z a t i o n s , s u c h a s t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s E n v i r o n m e n t a l

P r o g r a m m e a n d t h e J a p a n I n t e r n a t io n a l C o o p e r a t io n

A g e n c y , i n d e s i g n i n g m i n e d i s p o s al s c h e m e s.

Japanese International Cooperation Agency

(JICA) ProposalT h e d i s p o s a l s c h e m e i s a c o m b i n a t i o n o f t u n n e l -

l a u n d e r ( c h u t e ) - p i p e l i n e d e s i g n e d t o a c c o m m o d a t e

t a il i ng s d i s p o s e d o f i n 2 0 y e a r s o f m i n i n g o p e r a t i o n s .

T h e m i n e s ' d i s c h a r g e s y s t e m s w i l l b e c o n n e c t e d b y

t u n n e l s t h a t m e r g e i n a c o m m o n a r e a . T h e t a il in g s w il l

t h e n b e c o n v e y e d b y p i p e li n e s a n d l a u n d e r s t o t h e s ea .

Th e sys tem, which wi l l s e rve s ix mines , w il l s t a r t f rom

a c o m m o n p o i n t t o a d i s c h a r g e p o i n t a l o n g t h e s e a i n

L i n g a y e n G u l f , a d i s ta n c e o f 2 5 k m . S o m e o f t h e a d -

v a n t a g e s o f t h e p r o p o s a l a r e :

1 ) T h e s y s te m w il l p r o v i d e a n a r e a f o r r e c la m a t i o n a t

the d i sposa l s it e in L inga yen G ul f wi th the possi -

b i li ty o f d e v e l o p m e n t s u c h a s a p a r k o r a p o r t .

2) T he fac i l it ie s for c l eaning the p ipe l ine / l au nde r

a l o n g t h e c o m m o n l i n e w o u l d b e a s o u r c e o f i rr i-

g a t i o n w a t e r f o r f a r m l a n d s a l o n g t h e r o u t e o f t h e

c o m m o n l i n e .

3 ) T h e s y s t e m w o u l d t a k e c a r e o f f u t u r e e x p a n s io n s

a n d n e w m i n e s w i t h i n t h e m i n i n g d i s t r i c t a n d i t

would have a 20-year l i fe .

The d i sadvantage of the proposa l i s i t s h igh cos t e s t i -

m a t e s . T h e r a t e o f a m o r t i z a t i o n i s u n a c c e p t a b l e t o



Mining Pollution in the Phi l ippines 341

s o m e m i n e s w h i c h w i ll s h o u l d e r a p a r t o f t h e c o st s.

T h e t o t a l c o n s t r u c t i o n c o s t e s t i m a t e o f t h i s s y s t e m

w h e n i t w a s p r o p o s e d i n 1 9 78 w a s U S $ 6 0 m i l li o n : $ 2 9

m i l l i o n f o r t h e l a n d p o r t i o n a n d $ 3 1 m i l l i o n f o r t h e

s e a p o r t i o n .

United N at ions Environmen t Programm e(UNEP) Proposal

T h e d i s p o s a l s c h e m e i s a c o m b i n a t i o n o f t u n n e l -

l a u n d e r - p i p e l i n e s y s te m o f w h i c h t h e e n d - p o i n t di s-

p o s a l o f t h e t a il in g s is i n a n e a r b y m o u n t a i n f o o t h i ll s

v a ll ey . T h e a d v a n t a g e s o f t h e s y s t e m a r e t h e f o ll o w i n g :

1 ) I t wo u ld use s t a t e -ow ned l ands , t hus s ign i f i can tly

l o w e r i n g t h e c o s ts a n d t h e l it ig a t io n t h a t c o u l d b e

a n t i c i p a t e d i n t h e e x p r o p r i a t i o n o f p r i v a te l a n d s .

2 ) T h e d i s c h a r g e a r e a is n e a r t h e m i n e s , h e n c e co sts

a r e l o w e r f o r r a il in g s c o n v e y a n c e w o r k s .

3 ) Beca use o f go od loca t ion an d the ava il ab il it y o f

r o a d s a n d p o w e r l i n e s , t h e d i s p o s a l a r e a o f f e r s

g o o d o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d s a l e .

4 ) I t w o u l d c r e a t e a n a e st h e ti c a ll y a n d e n v i r o n m e n -

t a ll y ac c e p t ab l e a r e a f r o m w h a t i s p r e s e n t ly c o n s i d -

e r e d a d e s o l a t e a n d e c o n o m i c a l ly u n p r o d u c t i v e

a rea .

O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e f e a s ib i li ty o f t h e p r o p o s a l d e -

p e n d s o n t h e a b i li ty t o s a f e ly c o n t a i n t h e B u e d R i v e r in

t h e p r o p o s e d c o n t a i n m e n t c h a n n e l a t fu l l f l o o d s o t h a t

t h e w a t e r w ill n o t b r e a c h t h e b a n k s o f t h e c h a n n e l .

T h i s p r o p o s a l w il l a l so c o n d e m n t h e B u e d R i v e r, a n d

the l i f e span o f t he p ro j ec t i s r e l a t ive ly sho r t (10 yea r s ).

National Po wer C orporat ion (Phi l ippines) andElectro-Consult (Italy) Proposal

I n 1 9 7 9 , t h e P h i l i p p i n e s ' N a t i o n a l P o w e r C o r p o r a -

t i o n a n d E L C ( It a ly ) p r o p o s e d t h a t t h e m i n e t a il in g s b e

t r a p p e d i n a m u l t i p u r p o s e r e s e r v o i r t o b e c o n s t r u c t e d

d o w n s t r e a m o f t h e m i n e s . T h i s w a s in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h

a g o v e r n m e n t p l a n t o c o n s t r u c t t h e h u g e S a n R o q u e

M u l t i p u r p o s e P r o j e c t in t h e L o w e r A g n o R i v e r t o p r o -

v i d e i r ri g a t i o n , h y d r o e l e c t r i c p o w e r , f l o o d c o n t r o l, a n d

w a t e r q u a l it y i m p r o v e m e n t . T o g e t h e r w i t h th e n a t u r a l

e r o s i o n r u n o f f , t h e m i n e r a il in g s w i ll b e t r a p p e d i n t h e

re se rvo i r . Bagu io Min ing Di s t r i c t l i e s wi th in t he imme-

d i a t e w a t e rs h e d o f t h e p r o p o s e d m u l t i p u r p o s e r e s e r-

voir .

T h e p r o p o s e d d i s p o s a l s c h e m e d i c t a te s t h a t ra i li n gs

w il l b e d i s c h a r g e d d i r e c tl y f r o m t h e m i n e s t o t h e t r i b u -

t a ri e s o f t h e A g n o R i v e r. T h e t a il in g s w ill a c c u m u l a t e

i n t h e u p s t r e a m s id e o f th e p r o p o s e d m u l t i p u r p o s e

r e s e r v o i r. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r o p o n e n t s , t h e s y s t e m h a s

t h e f o l l o w i n g a d v a n t a g e s :

1 ) T h e r e s e r v o i r c a n p r o v i d e u p t o 1 . 3 b i ll io n m 3 o f

s t o r a g e a n d h a s a m p l e c a p a c i t y t o i m p o u n d t h e

e x p e c t e d v o l u m e o f m i n e r a il in g s w i t h o u t t h e n e e d

o f t a i l in g d a m s .

2 ) I t w il l i m p r o v e d o w n s t r e a m w a t e r q u a l i ty b y e li m i -n a t i n g t h e s o l i d s d i s c h a r g e d b y t h e m i n e s a n d b y

d i l u t i n g t h e c h e m i c a l s r e l e a s e d a f t e r m i n e p r o -

cessing.

3 ) E s t i m a t io n s b a s e d o n t h e p r e s e n t m i n e o p e r a t i o n s

i n d i c a te t h a t t h e s y s t e m c an a c c o m m o d a t e a l l m i n e

r a i l i n g s p r o d u c t i o n f o r t h e e n t i r e p r o d u c t i v e l i f e

o f t h e m i n e s ( u p t o 4 0 y e a r s) .

H o w e v e r , u n d e r t h i s p r o p o s a l , o n l y m i n e s a f f e c t i n g

t h e A g n o R i v e r w o u l d b e r e l i e v e d o f t h e t a i l i n g s d i s -

p o s a l p r o b l e m s . B e c a u s e o f h i g h c o s t e s t i m a t e s , t h e

r a t es o f a m o r t i z a t i o n w i ll b e v e r y h i g h . T h e t o ta l c o sto f c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e e n t i r e m u l t i p u r p o s e p r o j e c t w a s es -

t ima ted to be US $1 .2 b i l li on (1983 p r i ce s ) .

W h i l e t h e s e p r o p o s a l s a r e b e i n g c o n s i d e r e d , t h e

m i n i n g c o m p a n i e s a r e r e s o r t i n g t o t h e i r u s u a l m e a n s

o f d i s p o s a l , t h e u s e o f e x i s t i n g p o n d - t a i l i n g d a m s ,

w h i c h i s c o n s i d e r e d i n a d e q u a t e .

M i n e T a i l i n g s a n d t h e S a n R o q u e

M u l t i p u r p o s e P r o j e c t

T h e p r op o sa ls d o n e b y J I C A a n d U N E P h a d l o n g

b e e n f o r w a r d e d t o t h e n a t i o n ' s e c o n o m i c p l a n n i n g

b o d y , t h e N a t i o n a l E c on o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t A u t h o r i t y

( N E D A ) , f o r d e l i b e r a t i o n a n d c o m m e n t s . M e a n w h i l e ,

t h e P h i l i p p in e g o v e r n m e n t h a d a l r e ad y c o m m i t t e d it-

s e l f t o t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e S a n R o q u e M u l t i p u r -

p o s e P r o j e c t w i th t h e h e l p o f J a p a n e s e f i n a n c i n g .

A s o n e o f t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e p r o je c t , t h e p r o p o s e d

re se rvo i r wi l l be used a s a t r ap fo r mine ra i l i ngs and

s e d i m e n t s f r o m n a t u r a l e r o s i o n . T h e t e c h n i c a l f e a s i -

b i li ty s t u d y ( N P C - E L C 1 97 9 ) a s s u m e d t h e s ta t u s q u o

a n t e o f t h e w a t e r s h e d w o u l d c o n t i n u e , t h a t is , t h e i n -

f l o w o f w a t e r a n d s il t a n d s e d i m e n t w o u l d b e t h e s a m e

i n q u a l i t y a n d q u a n t i t y a s o b s e r v e d i n t h e p a s t . H o w -

eve r , t h i s a ssumpt ion i s doub t fu l , because so i l e ros ion

i n t h e a r e a i s c o n s i d e r e d s e r io u s o w i n g t o t h e d e t e r io -

r a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e w a t e r s h e d ( B F D 1 98 4 ). A l s o ,

m i n e t a i l i n g s p r o d u c t i o n w i l l i n c r e a s e w h e n t h e i n a c -

t iv e m i n i n g c o n c e s s io n s a r e d e v e l o p e d .

T h e h i g h i n v e s t m e n t c o st o f t h e S R M P P p r o m p t e d

B r i o n e s ( 19 8 5) t o a t t e m p t t o q u a n t i f y th e e f f e c t s o f

s e d i m e n t a t i o n o n t h e p r o p o s e d r e s e r v o ir . T o e s t i m a t e

t h e p o t e n t i a l e c o n o m i c l o s s u n d e r t h e s c e n a r i o a s d e -

p i c t e d i n t h e f e as i b il it y s t u d y , t h e r a t e o f n e t s e d i m e n t

i n f l o w f r o m t h e m i n e t a il in g s a n d n a t u r a l e r o s i o n i n t o

t h e p r o p o s e d r e s e r v o i r h a s b e e n c a l c u l a t e d .



3 4 2 N .D . Brio n es

O n t h e b a si s o f e s t i m a t i on s o f t h e p r o d u c t i v e l if e -

s p a n o f t h e a c t iv e m i n e s i n t h e a r e a a n d t h e d a i l y t o n -

n a g e o f m i n e t a i l in g s p r o d u c t i o n , a t o t a l o f 1 8 4 m i l li o n

m s o f m i n e r a il in g s h a s b e e n c a l c u l a te d t o a c c u m u l a t e

i n 5 0 y e a r s ( t h e e c o n o m i c p l a n n i n g p e r i o d o f t h eS R M P P ) . S e d i m e n t a t i o n f r o m n a t u r a l e r o s io n m u s t b e

a d d e d t o t h e m i n e r a i l i n g s t o g e t t h e t o t a l a m o u n t o f

s e d i m e n t t h a t w i ll g o in t o t h e p r o p o s e d r e s e r v o ir . N a t -

u r a l e r o s i o n i n c l u d e s g u l l y a n d s h e e t e r o s i o n a s w e l l a s

e r o s i o n d u e t o r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e ,

sh i f t in g cu l t iv a t io n an d o th er ag r icu l tu r a l ac t iv i t ie s ,

a n d l o g g i n g o p e r a t i o n s . B a s e d o n e r o s i o n s t u d i e s c o n -

d u c t e d i n t h e A g n o R i v e r w a t e r s h e d a n e t e r o s io n r a t e

o f 6 5 0 0 m a / k m 2 / y e a r w a s u s e d i n t h e c a l c u l a t i o n

(Br io n es 1 9 8 5 , BFD 1 9 8 4 , Ab ern a th y 1 9 8 4 ) . Es t ima-

t i o n o f n a t u r a l e r o s i o n g a v e a t o t a l v o l u m e o f 1 6 8

M C M . S u m m i n g u p t h e c o n t r i b u t io n o f m i n e t a il in g sa n d t h e s e d i m e n t f r o m n a t u r a l e r o s i o n w il l g i v e a t o ta l

v o l u m e o f 3 52 M C M f o r 5 0 y ea r s.

T h e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f th is g r e a t a m o u n t o f s ed i m e n t

i n t h e r e s e r v o i r w i l l r e d u c e t h e o u t p u t s o f h y d r o e l e c -

t r i c e n e r g y , u s a b l e i r r i g a t i o n w a t e r , a n d s t o r a g e f o r

f l o o d c o n t ro l . T h e c o m p u t a t i o n o f e c o n o m i c lo ss b y

B r i o n e s ( 1 9 8 5 ) s h o w e d t h a t s e d i m e n t s c o u l d r e d u c e

t h e p r o j e c t b e n e f i t s b y a s m u c h a s 1 2 % o f t h e o r i g i n a l

es t imates p r ese n te d in th e f eas ib i li ty s tu d y . I n mo n e-

t a W t e r m s , t h e v a l u e o f t h is d e c r e a s e i s a b o u t U S $ 3 7 0

mi l l io n (d isco u n ted a t 1 0 %) . Ab o u t 5 2 % o f th i s

a m o u n t ( U S $ 1 9 2 . 6 m i l l i o n ) c a n b e a t t r i b u t e d t o m i n et a i l i n g s ( o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e p r o p o r t i o n a t e v o l u m e o f

m i n e t a i l i n g s a n d n a t u r a l e r o s i o n t o b e t r a p p e d i n t h e

r ese rv o i r ) . Wh en th i s lo s s ( o r b en ef i t s f o rg o n e) i s co m-

p a r e d w i t h t h e J I C A p r o p o s a l , w h i c h w i ll c os t o n l y U S

$ 3 7 mi l l io n (d isco u n ted a t i0 %) , i t i s ev id en t th a t th e

P h i l ip p i n e e c o n o m y i s b e t t e r o f f i f t h e J I C A p r o p o s al

i s a d o p t e d a s t h e a l t e r n a t iv e d i s p o s al s c h e m e .

A n I m m e d i a te A n s w e r

T h e p r o p o s e d d i s p os a l s c h e m e s a r e v e r y co s tl y t o

i m p l e m e n t a n d a r e n o t f o r t h c o m i n g , b u t t h e r e a r e

m e a s u r e s t h a t c a n b e e m p l o y e d t o c u r b t h e p r o b l e m .

T h e m i n i n g f i r m s c a n s ta b il iz e a n d r e i n f o r c e t h e e x -

i s ti n g t a il i ng s d a m s t h r o u g h v e g e t a t i v e c o v e r i n g . S e v-

e r a l m e t h o d s o f s t a b i l i z i n g t a i l i n g s d a m s h a v e b e e n

t r i e d , a n d v e g e t a t i v e c o v e r i n g s e e m s t o b e t h e m o s t

p r a c t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c a l a l t e r n a t i v e f o r t h e m i n i n g

c o m p a n i e s . I n t r o d u c t i o n o f v e g e t a ti o n t o i m m e d i a t e l y

p r o v i d e p r o t e c t i v e c o v e r i s v e r y e s s e n ti a l, c o n s i d e r i n g

t h e h y d r o l o g i c a n d e c o lo g ic a l e n h a n c e m e n t t h e se p l a n t

c o v e r s c a n p r o v i d e . T h e u s e o f s o m e b i o l o g i c a l s t r u c -

t u r e s i n s t a b i l i z i n g t a i l i n g s d a m s a n d r o a d b a n k s h a d

b e e n t r i e d in t h e A g n o R i v e r w a t e r s h e d b y t h e R P -

G e r m a n T r a i n i n g C e n t e r f o r R e f o r e s t a t i o n a n d S o i l

Ero s io n Co n t ro l (Co s ta les an d Co s ta les 1 9 8 3 , Co s ta les

an d o th er s 1 9 8 1 an d 1 9 8 2 ) .

A t w o - y e a r d a t a b a s e o n m i n e w a s t e r e v e g e t a t i o n b yPef ia f ie l ( 1 9 8 1 ) r ev ea led th a t Alnus m ar i t im a , Tre m a

orientale, Pinus insularis, Desmodium sequiax, Eclipta alba,

a n d Miscanthus sinensis are su i tab le fo r min e was tes

p l a n t i n g i n t h e B a g u i o d i s t r i c t . B e c a u s e o f h i g h m o i s -

t u r e s t re s s i n m i n e d w a s t e ar e a s , O r r ( 1 9 75 ) s u g g e s t e d

t h a t c r o s s w i n d f u r r o w i n g a n d m u l c h i n g m u s t b e

a d o p t e d i n o r d e r t o c o n s e r v e a v a i l a b l e m o i s t u r e f o r

t h e p l a n t s a n d i n s o m e d e g r e e c o n t r o l s o il e r o s i o n a n d

g u s h i n g o v e r l a n d f l o w . C h a p m a n ( 1 9 6 7 ) r e c o m -

m e n d e d t h a t w h e n t r e e - p l a n t i n g o n o p e n - c a s t m i n e d

l a n d s i s t o b e d o n e , c a v it i es s h o u l d b e f i l l e d a n d d u m p s

l e v e l e d b e f o r e t h e a r e a i s c o v e r e d w i t h t o p s o i l . T h e np l a n t s o f h a r d y p i o n e e r s p e c i e s s h o u l d b e p l a n t e d i n

h o les to b e f i l l ed w i th to p so i l o r ig in a l ly co v er in g th ese

l a n d s. W h e n e v e r a v e g e t a t i v e c o v e r is t o b e r e e s ta b -

l i sh ed , th e p lan ts o r cu t t in g s n ms t b e se t d en se ly

e n o u g h t o b e a b l e t o cl o se u p q u i c k l y t o f o r m a p r o t e c -

t i ve b l a n k e t , w h i c h s h o u l d c o n s is t o f a m i x t u r e o f t re e s ,

s h r u b s , a n d s o m e g r a ss s p e c ie s . B r u s h w o o d s c o u l d a l so

b e u s e d f o r c o n t o u r p l a n t i n g t o t e m p o r a r i l y a r re s t s u r-

f a ce r u n o f f a n d s oi l m o v e m e n t ( A g p a o a 1 97 5, H u d s o n

i9 7 3 ) .

Discussion and Conclusions

T h e p r o b l e m o f m i n i n g p o l l u ti o n in t h e B a g u i o

M in in g D is t r ic t w i l l su r e ly b e f e l t f o r as lo n g as th e

m i n i n g f i r m s a r e a l l o w e d t o o p e r a t e i n t h e a r e a .

T r a d e o f f s w il l h a v e t o b e m a d e i n a s m u c h a s m a n y s o -

c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c b e n e f i t s a r e i n v o l v e d , b o t h f o r t h e

m i n i n g i n d u s t r y a n d t h e d o w n s t r e a m s e c t o r . I t i s n e c -

e s s a ry t o m a i n t a i n a b a l a n c e b e t w e e n e c o n o m i c g r o w t h

a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l q u a l i t y . W h a t i s t h e a p p r o p r i a t e

t r a d e o f f b e t w e e n e c o n o m i c g r o w t h a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l

q u a l i t y ? T h e a n s w e r i s c r u c i a l f o r s e t t i n g a p p r o p r i a t e

e n v i r o n m e n t a l s t a n d a r d s a n d f o r c o r r e c t l y a l l o ca t i n g

s c a r c e r e s o u r c e s b e t w e e n e c o n o m i c p r o d u c t i o n a n d

e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c ti o n .

T h e a t t a i n m e n t o f a g o o d e n v i r o n m e n t a l q u a l it y is a

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f b o t h t h e p u b l i c a n d t h e p r i v a t e

s e c t o r s . C o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m i n i n g f i r m s a n d

t h e g o v e r n m e n t i s n e e d e d t o p r o m o t e t h e e f f ic i e n t u t i-

l i z a ti o n a n d d i s p o s i t i o n o f re s o u r c e s . G o v e r n m e n t p o l i-

c i e s m u s t i n c l u d e p r a c t i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s a n d e c o -

n o m i c s , b u t t h e y m u s t a l s o i n c l u d e e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o -

t e c t i o n g o a l s . M i n i n g f i r m s , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , m u s t

b e c o n t i n u o u s l y c o n s c i o u s o f t h e p o l l u t i o n t h a t t h e y



M ining Po l lut ion in the Phi l ippines 343

c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a n d s h o u l d e n d e a v o r t o

m i n i m i z e t h e r e s u l t a n t e c o l o g ic a l i m b a l a n c e . T h e r a t e

o f d e v e l o p m e n t m u s t b a l a n c e t h e n a t i o n al e c o n o m i c

n e e d s a n d t h e n e c e s s i ty o f m a i n t a i n i n g a h e a l t h y e n v i -

r o n m e n t .U n c e r t a i n t ie s c l o u d t h e s o l u ti o n r e c o m m e n d i n g a

p l a n n e d i m p o u n d m e n t o f al l m i l l t a i li ng s i n to t h e p r o -

p o s e d m u l t i p u r p o s e r e s e rv o i r . T h e r e is a n e e d t o a s-

s e ss t h e s h o r t - a n d l o n g - t e r m q u a l i ty o f t h e r e s e r v o i r 's

w a t e r w i t h t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f m i ll w a s t es . C o n s i d e r i n g

t h e l a r g e v o l u m e o f m i n e t a i l in g s t o b e e v e n t u a l l y

d u m p e d i n t h e p r o p o s e d r e s e rv o i r , t h e r e m a y b e u n -

k n o w n e f f e c t s o n t h e s t o r e d w a t e r ' s a q u a t i c l if e, i n f l u -

e n c e s o n t h e w a t e r ' s p o t e n t ia l u s e a s i r r i g a t i o n w a t e r ,

a n d e f f ec t s o n t h e o p e r a t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e

e l e c t r o m e c h a n i c a l e q u i p m e n t o f t h e h y d r o e le c t r ic

p o w e r p l a n t . S i n ce t h e m u l t i p u r p o s e p r o je c t 's m a i nj u s t i f i c a t io n i s o t h e r t h a n a s a d i s p o s a l s it e f o r m i n e

t a il i ng s , i t w o u l d b e a p p r o p r i a t e a n d e c o n o m i c t h a t

m i n e t a i l in g s d i s p o s a l b e a d d r e s s e d i n o t h e r w a y s so a s

n o t t o j e o p a r d i z e t h e h u g e i n v e s t m e n t t o b e p o u r e d

i n t o t h i s p r o j e c t .

A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s

T h e a u t h o r is g r a t e f u l f o r t h e f in a n c ia l s u p p o r t

p r o v i d e d b y th e E n v i r o n m e n t a n d P o li cy In s t it u te ,

E a s t - W e s t C e n { er , H o n o l u l u , H a w a i i , U S A . S in c e r e

a p p r e c i a t i o n is e x t e n d e d t o t he s t a f f o f t h e W a t e r s h e d

M a n a g e m e n t G r o u p o f t h e N a t i on a l P ow e r C o r p o r a -

t i o n , D i l im a n , Q u e z o n C i ty , t h e P h i l i p p in e s , f o r p r o -

v i d i n g l o g i s t i c a l s u p p o r t d u r i n g t h e f i e l d s t u d y .

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