Mining in historic Homonhon Island in Eastern Samar, Philippines

EASTERN SAMAR (FYT, April 24) - The fight of Homonhon residents in Guiuan, Eastern Samar continues. They launched an online petition to stop mining in their island after failing to halt the loading operation of a mining company amid the community quarantine.
The cargo vessel with 13 Chinese and Myanmar nationals has already left for China, carrying about 7,000 metric tons of chromite ore. Now, the community has to deal with the root of their problem - mining, according to them.
“The decades-long mining operations in the historic island of Homonhon, Guiuan, Eastern Samar have caused immense and tremendous environmental and ecological damage to the island,” the petition on Change.org read.
The petition also claimed that the mining activities have divided the communities in the island, where Ferdinand Magellan landed almost half a century ago.
As of April 24, nearly 10,000 people have signed the petition initiated by the Homonhon Parish.
"I hope the government listens. This may seem impossible, but with the help of the people outside, I hope this awakens our government officials - not to put personal interests first, but to take good care of the lives here in Homonhon Island," Father Christian Ofilan of the island's St. John Baptist Parish told FYT.
According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Eastern Samar has an estimated metallic mineral reserve of 106.673 million metric tons.
▪️ Mining companies in the island
Two mining companies are currently operating in Homonhon Island, a fishing community of about 8,000 people.
One is Techiron Resources, Inc, which was recently allowed to load and ship chromite ore to China despite protests from the entire province. Its Mineral Ore Export Permit was briefly suspended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) after the community, the local government units of Eastern Samar, and the Catholic Church protested its loading operation.
“The suspension of the MOEP issued on March 31, 2020 is LIFTED and an Amended Mineral Ore Export Permit denominated as MOEP No. 2020-01 (AMENDED) is hereby issued subject to further mandatory compliance to Other Terms and Conditions,” the MGB told the mining company in an April 11 letter.
The other one is Emir Mineral Resources Corporation, which operates with an MGB-issued Special Mining Permit (SMP). The SMP allows the company “to conduct mining operation over a 279.1378-hectare area containing nickel, chromite, and other associated minerals located in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.”
Emir Mineral Resources Corporation was one of the two mining firms in Eastern Samar which the late DENR Secretary Gina Lopez suspended in 2016 due to various violations against environmental laws. The violations included siltation, discoloration of water, lack of drainage system, indiscriminate mining plans, and lack of reforestation.
According to Emir Mineral Resources Corporation, it has already addressed the allegations.
“On August 26, 2019, we were able to secure na ‘yung permit after clearing the alleged violations na sinasabi, so we were given the permit to operate. Pero unfortunately, because of COVID-19, hindi kami makagalaw,” Emir Mineral Resources Corporation project manager Angelito Gomez told FYT.
▪️ Preparing to mine
In a video, the Homonhon Environment Rescuers Organization (HERO) showed the mining site of Emir Mineral Resources Corporation, fearing that the mining company has already started its operation.
“Nagulat na lang kami, ang lawak-lawak na ng clearing operation nila,” according to Daipen Montes, a member of the HERO board of directors.
Gomez, however, clarified that the company is just preparing the mining site for the start of its operation.
Gomez also noted that the heaps of soil shown in the video are “not stockpiles” as described in the video.
“‘Yun yung soil na pinaglinisan namin. 'Yun kasi yung gagamitin for future rehabilitation ‘pag, halimbawa, na-mine natin ang area, ibabalik ‘yung soil na ‘yun para mataniman,” he said.
But this is the scenario that members of HERO fear, having seen the destructive effects of mining.
▪️ Let Homonhon heal first
Carme Garado Macapagao, another Homonhon resident, has tried to block the application of Emir Mineral Resources Corporation for the new permit back in 2018.
“Gusto naming ma-voice out na ayaw namin talaga mag-operate yung Emir, so nag-rally kami sa may tulay,” she recalled.
They failed, just like what happened to their recent protest against Techiron Resources, Inc.
Macapagao is among the residents who hope that through their online petition, the public will hear their “small voice” and help them convince authorities to stop the destruction of the island.
“Please help us bring this appeal to our government officials to give our island time and a chance to heal itself.” - FYT
Gio Costuna, FYT Community Reporter - Eastern Samar

[@mrgreen2921]

Kawawa mga nakatira diyan pag nagkaroon ng bagyo or tidal wave, Bakit pinapayagan ng gobyerno ang pag sira nila kalikasan. Anong mangyayari next 10-20 years???? Soil erosion or landslide sino kaya ma apektuhan?

[@Hook1229]

Tuloy ang ligaya ng Chinese mining,kahit may ECQ. Love nya talaga ang mga Chinese,kahit sino pa ang mamumuno sa Pilipinas,sandamakmak pari ang mga buwaya.

[@junelucero2812]

Pera kc yan gobyerno pa pag pera na

[@junelucero2812]

Ang pera sa mga yan goal nila yan nkakayaman kaya pg nasa politika ka

[@AmCan7288]

Bakit hindi kayo mag blog sa pagsisira ng mga minero sa kalikasan ninyo araw araw at iblog din ninyo kung saan napupunta ang pera na dapat ang lugar ninyo ay may bahagi

[@Maharliko234.kuting]

Gobernador ng eastern samar ang pumayag tanong niyo k evardone

[@gracegeecamayang8250]

Stop mining pls...saya ng mga chinese sinasslaula ang ating kalikasan

[@yanpra1998]

Stop Mining! DENR Nasaaan po kayo...

[@bertz007i]

Stop mining