The mining operations have long been stopped but the toxic wastes dumped by Marcopper and Placer Dome from 1975 to 1991 into Marinduque’s Calancan Bay, a major water and food source in the area, has claimed yet another life. By Bulatlat.com Ambeth Relloque, 18, was to be brought by ambulance to the Philippine General Hospital…
Category: Environment
Samar Folk Struggle to Regain a Paradise Lost
A mining company has allegedly destroyed a historic and stunningly beautiful island in Eastern Samar. Now, the residents are fighting back to protect their environment, themselves and their future, facing a formidable enemy that has been, according to them, deceiving the residents and pitting them against each other. By MAUREEN JAPZON Bulatlat.com TACLOBAN CITY –…
Water War: Ayalas Pit Themselves against Calamba Villagers
One of the Philippines’ mega-rich families – the Ayalas – are finding themselves locked in a war over water in Calamba City. Calamba residents their water source could be contaminated and worse, depleted because of a world-class golf course the Ayalas are building. By DENNIS ESPADA Bulatlat.com CALAMBA CITY – Residents of this city, which…
Indigenous Groups Decry 7 Years of IPRA Law
Dumagat, Remontado and Mangyan indigenous peoples from Southern Tagalog picketed the office of the National Commission Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Quezon City where they held a traditional blood-letting ritual of a native chicken. The protest action was to condemn the enactment and seven-year implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) which they say is…
Canadian Mining Firm Driving Subanons Off Their Sacred Land: Siocon’s main water source damaged by erosion from open-pit gold mine
“TVI is not concerned about the spiritual aspect…or the ecological aspect. They are only concerned about the economic aspect. Do they intend to live alone and us to die?” – Gody Galos, Save the Siocon leader. By ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat.com Mt. Canatuan in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte (390 kms. northwest of Davao in southern…
Ramming Through: Macapagal-Arroyo’s New Minerals Policy spells doom – environment groups
After failing to enact a controversial National Minerals Policy (NMP) due to widespread opposition by environmental groups and mining-affected communities, the government changed tact. Out of the blue, it issued last week Executive Order 270 which it says aims to promulgate a Minerals Action Plan within 90 days to revitalize the mining industry. But NGOs…
Oil Spill Threatens World-Famous Dive Spot, Militant fishers want criminal raps filed against shipowner
One month after it capsized in Apo Menor Reef off Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, the diving ship M/V Island Explorer has not been pulled off the mishap site and threatens to explode. Village fisherfolk are readying criminal charges against the shipowner while holding environment officials also accountable for the ecological destruction. By Gerry Albert Corpuz Bulatlat.com…