Colet Mines Presents ‘Clear and Present Danger,’ Mining Engineer Says
Contrary to its
statement two weeks ago, Colet Mining and Development Corp. (CMDC)
exploration and eventual mining operations present a “clear and present
danger” to communities and the environment of Sipalay, Negros
Occidental, asserts Efren Fabila, a long-time mining engineer and convenor
of Defend Patrimony, a broad alliance against large-scale mining.
BY KARL G. OMBION
Bulatlat
BACOLOD CITY –
Contrary to its statement two weeks ago, Colet Mining and Development
Corp. (CMDC) exploration and eventual mining operations present a “clear
and present danger” to communities and the environment of Sipalay, Negros
Occidental, asserts Efren Fabila, a long-time mining engineer and convenor
of Defend Patrimony, a broad alliance against large-scale mining.
“It is typical for
consultants like Mr. Lincoln Drilon who have not made a thorough field
investigation of the situation to easily dismiss the findings of the
Environmental Investigation Mission (EIM) conducted by Defend Patrimony in
the area,” Fabila said.
Fabila explained that
the water from these two creeks registers a high acidity pH of 3.2. The
upstream water of Sipalay River on the other hand where the two creeks
meet registers a basic pH of 8. These waters flow along the same rich
mineral area, yet there is a big difference in the pH reading. Fabila said
it is because Mantuboy and Caiwanan Creeks are active depository sites of
CMDC’s drillings.
Fabila also said rich
mineral deposits in their natural state do not cause high water acidity.
The phenomenon of acid mine drainage happens when sulfide ores are exposed
– in this case, allegedly due to extensive earthworks activities by Colet
– and oxidized. The leaching process then starts and the water turns
acidic.
The Mantuboy and
Caiwanan Creeks exemplify biologically dead creeks with no living aquatic
organisms and the wilting of coconut trees along the creeks indicates a
high level of water pollution of the waters, Fabila added.
Fabila also said the
construction of road networks and drill pads by CMDC has resulted in
massive land slide and bank erosion in some sections, which became the
source of silt. In a flooding early this year, a one-hectare paddy
downstream owned by a certain “Geori” was devastated due to silt
deposition. The sediment ponds constructed by CMDC in their drilling sites
are inadequate to mitigate siltation as most of the structures are already
full which renders it a useless system, he said.
Defend Patrimony
viewed CMDC’s “reforestation project” as a “hypocritical public relations
gimmick” which attempts to “soften the impact” of destruction, while
projecting a “benevolent” corporate image of itself. The photographs taken
around the area during the ocular survey indicate that reforestation was
not extensive enough to effectively decrease the runoff in directly
affected areas. Large track of open and barren lands still dominate the
area.
“CMDC should have
recognized that the value of reforestation lies in the reduction of
runoffs and consequently mitigation of flashfloods,” Defend Patrimony
added. “It should aim to reforest 100 percent of the disturbed areas
including the road network established. A high percentage reforestation of
the total disturbed areas should have reflected the company’s sincerity to
protect the people downstream against expected catastrophe.
It also said that
Drilon’s claim that only 100 hectares out of the more than 2,000 hectares
of the company’s mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) is polluted
is “not enough assurance” to dispel the apprehensions of affected
downstream populations.
“Mining pollution
knows no boundaries,” Defend Patrimony said. “(The) CMDC plans to use the
open-pit mining method which will generate large volume of mine wastes.
Assuming for the sake of discourse that once it operates, mine waste
generated will reach 104 MMT, excluding mine tailings. Where will these
mine wastes and tailings go? Certainly, the impacts will not be limited to
100 hectares.”
The engineer further
said that the Sipalay River is the major drainage way of the area in
question. “It steadily drains into the alluvial fans and floodplains of
Sipalay, outstretching towards the river delta which it finally settles,
and eventually into the coastal areas,” he said. “In fact, the delta and
coast is the last most effective deposition area of sediments coming from
the upstream section of Sipalay River.”
“As the phenomenon of
periodic river bed loading occurs in succession, surface soils are buried
with silt and in parts colluvial material that hardens and renders
agricultural lands a desolate landscape,” he said. “In any eventuality, we
are looking at a future cropland and wetland ecosystem of compacted
sediments.”
Fabila stressed that
the construction of siltation and tailings pond does not guarantee that
sediment deposits in the low lying areas can be mitigated, as exemplified
by previous experiences of dike failure such as breaching and overtopping.
“Drilon should learn from the experience of Maricalum Mining, which
experienced dam failures way back in 1982 and 1996, of which the
environmental and social impacts remain until today a legacy to the
affected communities,” he said.
Finally, Fabila said,
the claim of CMDC allocating 10 percent of the $20-million investment for
its environmental program has remained to be seen concretely. Mining
companies are notorious for not paying the required fees. Maricalum mining
for instance still owes the Sipalay City government more than P20 million
($388,274.12 based on a $1:P51.51 exchange rate as of May 5) in tax
arrears and unsettled financial obligations to its terminated workers.
Fabila said mining
operations, once decommissioned, leave behind unpaid financial liabilities
to the workers, local government units and the national government, while
the communities bear the brunt of social and environmental havoc caused by
their mining operations.
The Mining Act of
1995 allows 100 percent repatriation of profits to foreign investors.
Under such liberalized policy, mining companies tend to make super profits
and leave immediately when situations get tougher. Placer Dome of Canada
divested its share and interests in the Philippines right after the
Marinduque mining disaster in 1996. Bulatlat
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