HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF AND HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF AND UPDATES ON MINING IN MARINDUQUEUPDATES ON MINING IN MARINDUQUEUPDATES ON MINING IN MARINDUQUE UPDATES ON MINING IN MARINDUQUE AND ITS IMPACTSAND ITS IMPACTS

A presentation of the Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC) to the Environmental Concerns (MACEC) to the academic forum on the legal implications and prospects of the Marinduque mining tragedies, D b 9 2005 U i it f th Phili iDecember 9, 2005, University of the Philippines.Prepared by Myke R. Magalang, Executive Secretary

Marinduque is an island province which has a total land area of 959.3 square kilometers. It comprises 6 municipalities: Boac (the

it l) B i t Gcapital), Buenavista, Gasan. Mogpog, Sta. Cruz and Torrijos – where 218 barangays are not evenlybarangays are not evenly distributed. The island-province which lies between the Bondoc Peninsula at thethe Bondoc Peninsula at the southeastern part of Luzon and the island of Mindoro is encircled by four bodies of ywater: Tayabas Bay on the north; Mompong Pass on the northeast; Tayabas Strait on the southwest; and, Sibuyan Sea on the south.

Central Marinduque area is part of the Important Central Marinduque area is part of the Important Biodiversity Area (IBA) of the province that forms part of

the “Torrijos Watershed Forest Reserve” (coordinates: 13o25’N 121o 57’E) with a total area of 105 hectares. The )forest reserve was officially declared as such by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 463 issued on April 6, 1932

Exploration: Start of Exploration: Start of Environmental DestructionEnvironmental Destruction

“Blue Stone Project”started the exploration started the exploration

in Marinduque in the early 1930’s until Placer Dev’t Ltd Placer Dev’t. Ltd.

optioned the property in 1956. Exploration

continues in 1957-1960 which overlaps in the

protected area.protected area.

During the exploration phase, forest covers were

destructed resulting in degraded soil deg aded so

because rains and landslides wash

away fertile topsoil away fertile topsoil. The area could not

grow back the forest even after so many

years.

Mountains were blasted with dynamites to conduct geologic mapping. Endemic birds,

flora and fauna and the entire biodiversity in flora and fauna and the entire biodiversity in the area were irreparably damaged.

On November 15, 1969, 3,170.5 wet metric tons fof copper concentrates were initially shipped

via Japanese vessel Hooryu Maru. Marcopper Mining Corporation was born out of the TAPIAN g p

COPPER MINE PROJECT. 24 shipments were made until September 1970.

Machines of destruction: The Tapian Copper Mining Project originally planned to have an 18 000 tons per day Project originally planned to have an 18,000 tons per day milling capacity. In 1974 it was expanded to 30,000 tons

per day. Until 1990, 779.6 million kilograms of copper metal, 23.0 million grams of gold, and 127.9 million grams metal, 23.0 million grams of gold, and 127.9 million grams of silver were produced. Mt. Tapian was totally destroyed

and was replaced with Tapian Pit (300 m. depth).

TAPIAN PIT: SOURCE OF FURTHER DISASTERS

During the operation of the Tapian Copper Project, mine wastes were dumped in a 176.78 has. San Antonio Tailings p gPond. But in 1974, a huge deposit of copper ore body was discovered beneath the San Antonio Tailings Pond. The

National Pollution Control Commission approved the application for surface dumping at Calancan Bay.

CALANCAN BAY: A STORY OF A STORY OF MASSIVE DESTRUCTION

A 16-kilometer pipeline was installed from Mt

Tapian to Calancan Bay in 1975. Almost 30,000 dry

metric tons of tailings per d d d i day were dumped in

Calancan Bay. Until June 30, 1991, almost 300 million DMT of mine million DMT of mine

tailings formed an 80 square kilometer of

tailings dump in the area. tailings dump in the area. It is visible until now.

The people protested The people protested the dumping of mine wastes in Calancan

and took their case to the National Pollution Control Commission Control Commission.

But in 27 January 1982, Marcos, , ,

through a marginal note, approved the

ti d i continuous dumping of tailings on the bay “without constraints.”without constraints.

In a Sept. 1980 CONFIDENTIAL report of CONFIDENTIAL report of then AFP Major Gen. and

INP Dir. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos to the NPCC Ramos to the NPCC

Chairman, he confirmed that “the mine tailings have already taken its toll in the already taken its toll in the

bay and have caused continuous siltation of the

reef Consequently the reef. Consequently, the coral reefs are now in the state of deterioration and

d t ti Al th destruction. Also, the marine life which was once abundant within the areas i h t b f d ”is nowhere to be found.”

Mine tailings in Calancan Bay caused the destruction and death caused the destruction and death to aquatic organisms especially in coral reefs that contribute 10-13% of the total annual protein for the of the total annual protein for the people and deprived livelihood to

about 13% of the labor force.

Death to marine organisms can reduce the f famount of fishery resources available to

the communities and the people who are dependent on the bay for their daily p y y

sustenance and livelihood.

Kasabay ng pagpula ng mga bulaklak ng dapdap, bumalikwas ang mga mamamayan at

umusbong sa Marinduque ang bagong antas ng umusbong sa Marinduque ang bagong antas ng pakikibaka . . .

IMPACTS IMPACTS TO PEOPLE’S TO PEOPLE’S HEALTH

MYSTERIOUS DISEASES INCAPACITATED MEN,

WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM PRODUCTIVE

VENTURES

All toxic chemicals

whether added or l d t ll released naturally

from the precious ores by acid mine ores by acid mine

drainage also cause a variety of y

illnesses to people when

these chemicals are ingested or

inhaledinhaled.

Future residents of Calancan Bay area?

DOH Study of March 5-7, 1997 at Calancan Bay revealed that out of 108 patients:

• 6 have abnormal methemoglobinlevel;level;

• 10 have positive sulthemoglobin level;• 1 child has elevated blood MERCURY

level;• 9 have elevated blood LEAD level;

20 h l t d bl d CYNANIDE• 20 have elevated blood CYNANIDElevel;

• more or less 54% were anemic• more or less 54% were anemic

The DOH Health Study of October 1997 i C l b l d th t t in Calancan bay area revealed that out

of 59 subjects:

100% have elevated blood LEAD level; 20% have blood CYANIDE level higher g

than the acceptable limits;43 subjects have anemia.

The DOH announced that they have no available funds to finance their recommended full blown health assessment to determine the extent of impact to people’s health. They to determine the extent of impact to people s health. They estimated that at least P14,000,000.00 is needed for the

health assessment. The DOH utilized P2,400,000.00 for the detoxification of 7 children or P342,857.00 wach patient., p

On March 5, 1998 Pres. Ramos issued Presidential Proclamation No 1172 “declaring Presidential Proclamation No. 1172 declaring

a state of calamity in barangays Ipil, Kamandugan and Botilao in Sta. Cruz,

M i d d t l t d bl d Marinduque due to elevated blood mercury level among school children.”

IN MEMORIAMIN MEMORIAM+ Leonida P. Ricohermoso, 61

7 18 19997-18-1999+ Eduardo Q. Diaz, 32

11-23, 1998+ Allan P. Quimdoza, 20

5-30-1998+ Isabel P. Garnica, 45 Isabel P. Garnica, 45

6-30-2004+ Marte C. Latorre, 14

5 9 19985-9-1998+ Adelina R. Legitimas, 49

4-12-2003+ Ivan Rey P. Marimon, 3

2-4-2003

IN MEMORIAMIN MEMORIAM+ Feliza L. Morales, 55 (7-29-2002)+ Francis R. Palmero, 16 (3-21-1995), ( )+ Jasmin R. Pantoja, 12 (7-16-1997)+ Renato E. Pantoja, Jr., 15 (8-24-1997)+ Rebecca E Pantoja 3 mos (12 16 1997)+ Rebecca E. Pantoja, 3 mos., (12-16-1997)+ Joselito R. Panuelos, 2 days (6-8-1998)+ Jessabel R. Panuelos, 24 hrs. (10-8-1998)+ Maricel Pantoja Par, 22 (4-12-1999)+ Princess Mariel P. Par, 2 days (3-31-1999)+ Princess Marinella P. Par, 2 days (3-31-1999), y ( )+ Ernesto R. Pedernal, 50 (1-23-1995)+ Luningning P. Pedernal, 12 (11-01-1997)+ Catalina R Postrado 72 (8 6 1997+ Catalina R. Postrado, 72 (8-6-1997+ Marlon P. Latorre, 12 (1-28-1997)

IN MEMORIAMIN MEMORIAM+ Elino Mantala Permejo, 59 (11-29-2001)

P i P P j 46 (10 15 2003)+ Presentacion P. Permejo, 46 (10-15-2003)+ Segunda M. Permejo, n.i. (4-30-2002)+ Dioscoro P. Pizarra, 57 (3-16-2000)( )+ Marvic F. Quindoza, 13 (4-9-1998)+ Cecille P. Regencia, 20 (12-19-2000)+ Maribel P Regencia 31 (4-9-2004)+ Maribel P. Regencia, 31 (4-9-2004)+ Lucia P. Revilla, 76 (1-22-2002)+ Maricel Riego, 20 (6-6-1995)

Alf d Ri 19 (5 1 1996)+ Alfredo Riego, 19 (5-1-1996)+ Pedro L. Villasanta, 61 (7-15-1997)+ Policarpio P. Regencia, n.i. (n.i.)p g ( )

IN MEMORIAMIN MEMORIAM+

AMBETH T. ROLLUQUEExtreme weight loss; thin to the bone;

+RODEN REYNOSO

Lead and arsenic poisoning

+MA. CRISTINA LIMBO

Acute myelogenous leukemia

IN MEMORIAMIN MEMORIAM

SAN ANTONIO COPPER PROJECT

In mid-1991, plants and equipment were transferred from Tapian to San Antonio for the transferred from Tapian to San Antonio for the new project. The new site is three kilometers

away from the Tapian mine site. It was estimated that 354 million tons of waste rocks may be that 354 million tons of waste rocks may be

derived from the new mine project. It necessitated the construction of Maguilaguila Waste Dump and Siltation Dam and the Catmon

Dump.There was no alternative site for safe mine There was no alternative site for safe mine tailings disposal. Even without proper risk

assessment plan, the DENR approved the use of the Tapian Pit as depository of mine tailings.

The new project is envisioned to have a 20-year operating life and a yield of 198 million tons of operating life and a yield of 198 million tons of

copper ore.

Outlet of Maguila-guila Waste Dam: Constructed for the San Antonio Copper

Project, it has the capacity to accommodate j , p yan estimate of 180-200 million metric tons

of waste rock.

MAGUILAGUILA SILTATION SILTATION DAM: Another

f source of tragedies

Contaminated wastes are carried by are carried by floodwaters into creeks, rivers and seas and cause seas and cause siltation and pollution of water bodies thereby reducing the volume of fish catch. Contaminated floodwaters also poison the soil causing its inability to grow crops

Waste generated from mining is huge so that mining is huge so that

rains and typhoons cause landslides, dam failures, or bursting of pipelines consequently burying low-lying farms burying low lying farms

and nearby fishing grounds.

On December 6, 1993, Maguilaguila Dam collapsed and caused massive flooding in the low lying areas and caused massive flooding in the low-lying areas of Mogpog. Since then, Mogpog river was declared biologically dead. Two children drowned during the

flood. Farm animals died and agricultural areas flood. Farm animals died and agricultural areas were covered with contaminated mine wastes.

The story behind the blind The story behind the blind centurion by the river: a prelude to

the Boac River 1996 Disaster!

BOAC RIVER DISASTER OF 19961996

On March 23, 1996 at 10:00 in the On March 23, 1996 at 10:00 in the evening, Friday, there was a massive

seepage at drainage tunnel 190 of the Tapian Pit. The seepage actually started

in August 1995 but it was not properly dd d b th t d it th addressed by the government despite the people’s insistent demand to check the

unusual seepage in the tunnelunusual seepage in the tunnel.

This is the only available photo pof the first day of tailings flow from the Tapian from the Tapian

Pit into the Makulapnit and B Ri Boac Rivers on March 24, 2005.

Flow of tailings at Boac River in the succeeding

days.days.

The characteristics of the tailings flow is so unique

that is has to fill in all gaps in its way before flowing. Contaminated flowing. Contaminated tailings discharge from

Tapian Pit for the first 15 days is estimated at 5 10 days is estimated at 5-10 cubic meters per second.

River fishing was heavily affected by the disaster; It also impacted on rice farming which generated irrigated water from Boac River; it also resulted to irrigated water from Boac River; it also resulted to

loss of access to market by farmer-traders; laundry services of marginal laundrywomen were impacted at once When the talinings reached the impacted at once. When the talinings reached the coastal area, small fisherfolks sustaines losses in

their income for daily fish catch; fish retailers were also affected.

The 1996 Boac River Disaster is River Disaster is the biggest of its kind in terms of

it d i th magnitude in the entire history of mining in the gPhilippines.

Marinduqe is one of qthe smallest island-provinces in the Philippines which Philippines which hosted the largest copper mining company in Asiacompany in Asia-Pacific Region

EFFECTS OF THE 1996 BOAC RIVER DISASTERRIVER DISASTER

almost 3 million cubic meters of contaminated tailings were deposited in the 27-km span of Boac River and the coastal areas near the river mouth;

extensive impact on the river ecosystem; the extensive impact on the river ecosystem; the devastating effects to the river and the coastal ecosystems were of such magnitude that the United Nations declared the tragedy as an environmental Nations declared the tragedy as an environmental disaster;

onrush of tailings downstream displaces the river g pwater and flooded the low-lying barangays, destroyed crops and vegetable plantations, eliminated endemic aquatic fauna, clogged the eliminated endemic aquatic fauna, clogged the irrigation waterway to ricefields;

Road sections straddling the river were damaged which isolated 7 barangays affecting the people’s trade and access to services;

during the early days of the disaster, the impacts d l ff t d th l l id t (+/ 20 000) adversely affected the local residents (+/- 20,000)

whose livelihood activities were river-dependent;

sources of drinking water in the immediate sources of drinking water in the immediate vicinities were also directly affected and contaminated with mine tailings;

the disaster affected a total of 47/61 barangays or an estimate of 7,500 households or 2/3 of the entire population;entire population;

on March 28, 1996 Pres. Ramos signed Proclamation No. 778 placing the municipality fo Boac under a stae of calamity

ECONOMIC EFFECTSECONOMIC EFFECTSECONOMIC EFFECTSECONOMIC EFFECTS

The estimated foregone income in 1996The estimated foregone income in 1996 alone is P50.1 million which is more than 50% of the total provincial income of P95 050% of the total provincial income of P95.0 million; and more than twice the total municipal income of Boac of P21 million in pthe same year; twice the actual compensation paid out to the damage

l i t f th i dclaimants for the same period.(Bennagen)

HEALTH EFFECTSHEALTH EFFECTSHEALTH EFFECTSHEALTH EFFECTS

The people along Boac River fear that several years after the disaster yand due to their continuous exposure to the mine tailings, they p g , ywill suffer the same illnesses being experienced by the people in p y p pCalancan Bay area.

August 2, 1996: People VS. John Eric Loney, Criminal Case Nos. 96-44, 96-47, 96-51, 96-53;

People VS. Steven Paul Reid, Criminal Case Nos. 96-45, 96-48, 96-50, 96-55; People VS. Nos. 96 45, 96 48, 96 50, 96 55; People VS.

Pedro B. Hernandez, Criminal Case Nos. 96-46, 96-49, 96-52, 96-54.

REHABILITATION?REHABILITATION?

After grouting Tunnel 190 to stop the flow of tailings, Placer Dome invested another tens of millions of dollars to construct a dredge channel at the mouth of Boac River (1,000 m. in length x 100 m. in width x 6 m. in depth), to contain the coarse fractions of tailings and prevent them from escaping into the sea!!

The dredging project itself caused massive disturbance to caused massive disturbance to the coastal ecosystems; destroyed coral reefs and destroyed coral reefs and breeding grounds for marine biota; and destroyed the swamps biota; and destroyed the swamps and mangrove forests which sustain the local people’s daily sustain the local people’s daily protein need.

REHABILITATION?REHABILITATION?

Tailings along the river were placed in bags and left deteriorating in the river banks. They called left deteriorating in the river banks. They called it river clean-up!! According to Placer Dome:“Placer Dome deposited sufficient funds in the bank

of an escrow holder to remediate the remaining tailing in levee banks, spillovers and patches along

the Boac River. The escrow holder is a large ginstitutional Bank in New York, New York. The

international engineering consulting firm URS must certify that F Holdings ( a major shareholder in y g ( j

Marcopper at the time Placer entered into the clean-up arrangements), has completed the remediation

work at specified milestones. Once the Bank receives o at spec ed esto es O ce t e a ece escertain documentation, including a copy of the certification statement from URS, it releases a

portion of the escrowed funds from the bank account portion of the escrowed funds from the bank account to F Holdings.”

PLACER DOME left thePLACER DOME left the country unceremoniously like a thief in the nightthief in the night.

“They dumped their wastes,They dumped their wastes, they dumped their shares, they dumped their responsibilities!”dumped their responsibilities!

WE FIGHT FOR OUR FUTURE

OUR STRUGGLE … CONTINUESCONTINUES

March 24, 1997: The First Bishop of Boac, + Rafael M. Lim and then Mayor Roberto Madla, led the people in effecting a “closure order” to

Marcopper and Placer Dome The padlocked the compan ’s offices inMarcopper and Placer Dome. They padlocked the company’s offices in Marinduque.

we succeeded in demanding damage compensation to the victims, EGF was institutionalized as a national policy;was institutionalized as a national policy;

we prevented the introduction to the Philippines of submarine tailings disposal (STD), banning STD in the country becomes a national policy.

MARINDUQUE . . .MARINDUQUE . . .the smallest island-province in the country

hi h h t d th l t i iwhich hosted the largest copper mining operation in the Asia-Pacific region;one of the only 7 Fourth Class provincesone of the only 7 Fourth Class provinces in the Country;Ranked as 14th poorest province in the p pPhilippines;Ranked as having the 3rd most denuded f tforests.Has a poverty incidence of 54.78%

NO TO REOPENING OF MARCOPPER!

Welcome to MARINDUQUEWelcome to MARINDUQUE . . .

SOLIDARITY!SOLIDARITY!