But in April 2008, Korean Resources Inc. and LG International Corporation, both based in South Korea, raised their holdings in Lafayette from 26 percent to 70 percent, thus taking control of the company. The remaining 30 percent was held by Malaysia Smelting Company. This resulted in the revival of the mining operations on Rapu-Rapu, allowing the new management to restructure what it calls a “more responsible mining.”
Again and again
Last week, a group of environmental activists, health professionals, and church people from Manila, Bicol and Japan held a “solidarity mission” to Rapu-Rapu. The objective of the fact-finding team was to document and report the continuing and worsening impacts of large-scale mining on the island.
The team administered tests on the sources of drinking water to check if it is free from contamination. It also conducted medical check-ups and interviews with the residents.
The fisherfolk told the mission that their fish catch had significantly decreased since the mining company began disposing their wastes into the seawater in 2005. They believe the malasugi and other tuna species have moved farther away from Rapu-Rapu because of the pollution caused by the mining operations.
Fernando Hicap, chairman of the Pamalakaya (Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas or National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organizations in the Philippines), estimated that the fish catch on and around Rapu-Rapu has declined by as much as 90 percent.
Hicap said in a press conference on May 13 that this decrease forced the fisherfolk to go farther out to sea, even reaching the neighboring islands of Catanduanes, just to improve their catch. This increased their cost of fishing because of higher gasoline consumption among other expenses, he said.
Residents from barangay Buenavista who were interviewed by the mission said they already lost almost half of the coral reefs in their locality since the start of the mining operations by Lafayette.
Dr. Geneve Rivera, secretary general of the Health Alliance for Democracy (Head) and leader of the medical team during the mission, reported that some residents have suffered itchy lesions. “The residents told us that these dermatological problems started to surface since the start of large-scale mining in the area,” she said.
Some of the residents from Tinopan, a village adjacent to the mining site, also complained that every time the wind blows from the direction of the mining site, they feel dizzy and experience headaches.
Rivera said there is also a reported increase in the occurrence of respiratory ailments such as cough and cold in the communities near the mining site.
“What aggravates the situation is the lack of medical services in the area. Majority of the residents are very poor and could not afford to go to hospitals in Rapu-Rapu or Legazpi City,” Rivera pointed out. “This situation leads to several deaths, particularly among children, from simple illnesses such as diarrhea and vomiting.”
Antonio Casitas, leader of the local organization Sagip Isla Sagip Kapwa (Save the Island, Save the People), said the residents could no longer wait for the negative impact of the mining operations to worsen. “In order to stop this, the local government should urgently suspend the operations of Lafayette, investigate the marine degradation in the area and immediately provide financial and food assistance to the poor communities of Rapu-Rapu,” he said. “Once and for all, the Arroyo government should listen to the people and immediately stop the large-scale mining on our beloved island.” (Bulatlat.com)
Tsaka panu kung biglang pinasara ang minahan sa rapu-rapu…tapos naiwang nakatiwangwang ang lupa..cnu rin ba ang apektado diba ang mga tao sa lugar…mawawalan ng trabaho, mga benipisyo sa kompanya at iba pang mga bagay na pdng makatulong sa tao
Tama ka jan sara…ang lahat ng mga naninira sa lafayette ay yung mga taong gusto rin malagayan ng pera ang bulsa…and ginagawang instrumento ang mga lokal na tao para sa kanilang mudos..kaya kayo mga anti mining sory nalang kayo…bebebebebebe wala na kayung magagawa
ok lang yan basta ako nakikinabang sa lafayette….bwuaahahahahahahaha!
ika nga there are two sides to a story. nakapunta na ako dun nung 2006 as a student pero maayos naman na naexplain nila yung kanilang operation at inikot pa kami sa site. sabi nila, ang mga naninira sa kanila ay yung hindi man lang nakapunta dun at ang maga nakukuhang reaction ay galing lang lahat sa mga antimining. ako naman ay open minded, suggest ko lang punta din sila dun…ika nga, to see is to believe. shocked nga ako dhil una kong nasagap bago pumunta dun, may nagwarning sa amin na wag pumasok at baka masalvage kami. nung mameet namin mga staff at officers nila, disente at mababait naman pala sila. lahat na tanong namin tungkol sa fish kill at mga environmental at social commitments nila ay maliwanag na naexplain at mas naliwanagan pa nang iikot kami. nakapunta kami sa open pit, tailing ponds at planta.
mahusay! 🙂
badtrip talaga ang mining industry sa pinas. hindi na nga maayos ang safety measures, hindi pa mga pinoy ang nakikinabang sa mga minerals natin! at mas masahol pa, nagdudulot pa sila ng paninira sa kalikasan ng bansa natin. at mas marami pang posibleng ganitong scenarios kapag nailusot pa ng GMA administration ang economic amendments sa cha-cha! kaya naman,
no to cha-cha!
fight for sovereignty!
oust gloria!!!
hi ja!! so proud of your article again! true blue bicolana! haha. =) glad you've been practicing and pursuing journalism.. clap clap….specially upbringing the women! =) awwww…=)
Dear JANESS,
HELLO!
I'm so happy and proud that you've immediately published your report! Though we've both personally witnessed the island, I still get teary eyes when you narrated the story of Nanay Antipas. She's only one of the living testimonies that we have to see and hear inorder to inspire not only our leaders, but all of us to be vigilant in protecting human dignity and respect to our nourishing environment.
We all have to overcome our self/egoistic greediness (luciferic influence) and materialistic needs (Arimateic influence) for us to preserve humanity and our environment. We should always be in communication with our Creator for whom is the only source of Goodness/Energy.
Let us all be inspired by the actions of the communities in Benguet and Ifugao wherein they performed their respective "cleansing rituals": SAREY in Kabayan, Benguet, performed by their Mambunong, and LAWIT in Tinoc, Ifugao, performed by their Mumbaki following the tragedy that struck the two areas to appease the evil spirits and re-establish the serenity of their lands. This is one the importance of not only embracing, but also, defending our own culture and our own land.
Let us also remember that our "Environmental Health reflects Human Health"!
IPAGPATULOY NATIN ANG LABAN!
Again, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU !!!
Please let your mamita update me with the hemogram results that i've requested (if ever they have complied), and other updates regarding papito thru my mobile # (0915) 771-4347.
Sorry rin po kung matagal ako reply 'coz i seldom browse my e-mail and use my cp. I just don't want to rely too much on these technologies which, as we all know, imbued our generation. The reason why some of the authors label our present generation as TECHNOLOGICAL BARBARISM – 'coz technology can actually destroy our humanhood especially if we let technology clinch on ourselves.
More GOOD ENERGIES! More POWER to you!