MARINDUQUE MINING: ELUSIVE JUSTICE, ELUSIVE DEVELOPMENT MYKE R. MAGALANG Executive Secretary Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns LGU-Bishops’ Conference on Mining April 29, 2009

1. MARINDUQUE
MINING: ELUSIVE
JUSTICE, ELUSIVE
DEVELOPMENT©
MYKE R. MAGALANG
Executive Secretary
Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns LGU-
Bishops’ Conference on Mining April 29,
2009

2. Marinduque has a total
land area of 95,925
has. of which 50,346
has. or 53% is
devoted to
agriculture. It is one
of the smallest
provinces in the
country with a
population of only
229,636 as of 2007
distributed in 218
barangays of its six
towns.

3. “Blue Stone Project”
started the exploration in
Marinduque in the early
1930‟s until Placer Dev‟t.
Ltd. optioned the
property in 1956.
Exploration continued in
1957-1960 which
overlapped in the
Torrijos Watershed Area.
Tapian Copper Mine
Project started its full-
blown operation after its
inauguration on October
6, 1969.

4. THE TAPIAN
COPPER MINE
PROJECT
(1965-1990)

5. November 15, 1969 --
3,170.5 wet metric
tons of copper
concentrates initially
shipped via Japanese
vessel Hooryu Maru.
For its operation it
constructed San
Antonio Tailings Pond
as depository of mine
wastes.

6. In 1974 a „mineable‟ ore
body was discovered
beneath the San Antonio
Tailings Pond. It
necessitated the
company to stop
discharging its tailings
into the pond while
continuously operating
the still huge deposits of
copper and gold in the
Tapian Mine Project.

7. The Tapian Copper
Project and the discovery
of the San Antonio ore
porphyry resulted in the
massive discharge of
mine tailings directly into
Calancan Bay which
caused massive
destruction of the once
rich fishing ground.

8. The fisher folks of
Calancan Bay were
displaced from their
source of livelihood,
their very source of life
and survival -- their
economic base was
significantly
threatened.

9. Aside from loss of
livelihood, the people are
suffering from and
continuously threatened
by heavy metal
contamination.

11. THE SAN
ANTONIO
COPPER
PROJECT
(1991- 1996)

13. On December 6, 1993,
Maguilaguila Dam collapsed
causing massive flooding in
the low-lying areas of
Mogpog. Two children
drowned during the flood.
Farm animals died and
agricultural areas as well as
the business district were
inundated with
contaminated mine wastes.
The river is biologically dead
until now.

14. Thirteen (13) years
after the Mogpog
River disaster,
various reports pose
alarm over the rise in
signs of heavy metal
contamination-related
diseases in the
communities along
Mogpog River.

17. In thousand, pesos except the figures per share

18. On March 23, 1996 there
was a massive seepage at
drainage tunnel 190 of the
Tapian Pit which resulted to
an “environmental disaster”
-- the biggest mining-related
disaster in the history of
mining in the country.

22. 30 years after hosting large-scale
mining operations, development
remains elusive for Marinduqueños:
the province is one of the poorest
provinces in the country with more
than 70% poverty incidence!

28. “They have exploited our
resources but left us poor
and desolate. Our plea
from the company to
restore, restitute and
rehabilitate the damage
areas fell on deaf ears.”
(Letter of Gov. Carmencita O.
Reyes to DENR Secretary
dated May 3, 2006.)

29. The areas and
communities
impacted by the
mining operations
were also the ones
vulnerable during
disasters.

30. “As long as
Marinduque’s mountains
remain rich in desirable
metals, Marinduqueños
will have to remain
eternally vigilant to
protect the island from
further mining”
(+Rafael M. Lim, D.D.,
First Bishop of Boac)

34. NEVER AGAIN!

35. We commit to continue
our intensified struggle
for economic freedom,
social development and
environmental justice!

36. Mining is a
threat to the
very source of
our children’s
future!

37. We will tell you more
of our experiences
and victories when
we crossed the
bridge. . .

38. WE WELCOME YOUR SUPPORT:
Contact us at:
Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns 2nd
Floor, Sacred Heart Pastoral Center,
Cathedral Compound, Boac, Marinduque.
Tel Nos: (042) 332-2713
Email: myke_sacmarinduque@yahoo.com

39. THANK
YOU!