A POSITION PAPER ON MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES

A destruction of environment due to mining. It has various advantages and

disadvantages that affects the environment and the lives of every human being in the
Philippines. Mining is the process of digging mines to obtain minerals, metals, and
jewels that serves as the livelihood to every human being. It gives people some of the
resources needed for modern civilization, but it can lead to environmental harm. Some
are opposite and based on opposition to destructive mining practices and others dislike
mining in general. Humans need a wide range of natural resources to create the
products modern civilization needs. While alternative forms of energy are becoming
more worthwhile, most of the areas need coal, natural gas, and uranium to provide
energy. Similarly, oil is necessary for powering vehicles and the transportation industry.
Mining allows people to use these resources.

Mining is one of the resources that mostly common Filipinos choose as their source of
living. A mine is a pit of tunnel wherein a miner used to dig in getting minerals such as
coal, gold, and diamonds are taken. According to Josephine C. Maguad, Senior
Environmental Management Specialist of EMB- Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) mining is an employment for economic growth in a certain country, it
increase also the revenue for the miners as well as for the government fund, it is a
source of livelihood for the people around a certain area, the social development for the
community and other stakeholders and in the larger community. She also mentioned
that it could also transform into other uses, used for natural resources, can alter and for
enhancement for the area, it is also for the rehabilitation to bring back healthy condition
of the soil after they used it. The people around the community need also to plant more
trees for renewable resources and for the carbon dioxide. So at the end of every mining,
there will be the possibility of gaining more nutrients from the soil. There are a lot of
advantages of mining that could give to the lives of every person. It is a little bit
unfamiliar to those people who are new about this matter. But, it helps a lot to the
economic growth of the Philippines as to the other stakeholders all over the country. It is
indeed a stepping stone to faster earnings. It is a development for the community
certainly the rapid out-growth of resources. She also discussed about the negativity of
mining such as it decreases the natural resource that is supplied by nature, if it is
irresponsible and have mismanagement in mining, there is also a possibility of pollution
in land, air, and water. It is bound in the Republic Act (RA) 7942 law or the Philippine
Mining act that speaks about the environmental act in land, air, and water if a single
person is irresponsible and not maintaining the growth of natural resources. Mining is
definitely having a lot of disadvantages that could trigger the crisis that is very rampant
in the country. Just like every time there is landslides and floods that softens the soil in
the mountainous part. The miners themselves need to take risks so that they could
raise their own families and help them out to survive. Just like if there is an earthquake,
the lives of the miners will be in danger because there is the possibility that the place
will be destroyed and broken down that could lead to death. It is a matter of taking risks
and a matter of choice for them because in some areas it is the easiest way to uplift
their own lives as well as for their family. According to a research of rappler.com,
representatives from the mining sector expressed their reservations about the plan to
declare eight provinces as mining-free zones during a Senate hearing. These areas are:
Cagayan de Oro City, Catanduanes, Nueva Vizcaya, Eastern Samar, Nueva Ecija,
Biliran, Davao City, and Second District of Sorsogon. Chamber of mines of the
Philippines vice president for policy Ronald Recidoro said that banning mining from
those areas will “set a bad precedent” for the Philippine government and also added
that mineral resources are limited, finite and do not occur everywhere. They are
concentrated in only a few blessed provinces. This deprives the national government of
the chance to develop a national industrialization plan. Around 65% of the Philippines
cannot be mined under current laws and executive orders despite the vast potential of
the country as a source of minerals. Meanwhile, mining is destructive to the
environment but Representative Carlos Padilla of the lone district of Nueva Vizcaya is
prioritizing the agriculture over the mining.
There are various advantages and disadvantages of mining in the Philippines that has
different functions and uses which can profit the community in the society. In
conclusion, mining should be stop so that the destruction of the environment will be
minimize and the lives of the next generation will be save, more enjoyable and
preserve.