The document details two significant accidents involving large-scale mining operations in Palawan, highlighting the environmental and social repercussions of these incidents. Civil society groups have refuted claims made by mining companies regarding the impacts of mining on biodiversity and the local economy, emphasizing the need for responsible development that prioritizes ecological preservation. The Save Palawan Movement argues against mining in key biodiversity areas and calls for the government's urgent intervention to protect Palawan's fragile ecosystems.

1. 2 ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY LARGE-SCALE MINING IN PALAWAN
Large-scale mining companies often cite the advent of new been undertaken to determine the impact of this pollution. The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff
technology and the new mining laws to ensure responsible The mining corporation claimed that the area where the (PCSDS) made an initial assessment of the coral areas
mining. They claim that mining accidents and disasters are nickel ores fell had no corals. In other words, RTNMC does damaged by the ship, but has yet to identify the persons or
things of the past and dissociate themselves from mining not see any urgency in retrieving the 188 tons of nickel ore entities liable for the damages.
disasters, which they say took place before the passage of the from the sea. According to personnel of the Mines and GeoSciences
Philippine Mining Act. On May 11, 2011 , a Chinese ship engaged by the Citinickel Bureau (MGB), the mining company cannot be held
However, two recent accidents which occurred during large- Mining Corporation, loaded with nickel ore to be shipped to liable for the damage to the corals because the company’s
scale mining operations in Palawan disprove the claims of China, ran aground and destroyed some 1000 square meters responsibility ended when it loaded the mineral ores on
large-scale mining companies and illustrate the risks that of coral reef areas in Barangay San Isidro, Municipality the ship. Civil society and community representatives have
every mining operation brings. of Narra. The incident was not reported by the mining refuted the claims of the mining company and the MGB,
On March 1, 2011, at around 11 o’clock in the evening, a corporation nor by the owner of the Chinese vessel. Had asserting the following: (i) the incident was part of the
barge owned by the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation it not been for the text of a concerned citizen to the PCG mining process, (ii) it took place within Palawan territory,
(RTNMC) capsized about 3 to 4 kilometers from the pier on May 13, 2011, this matter would not have reached the and (iii) the mining company was remiss in reporting this
of Barangay Rio Tuba, Municipality of Bataraza, due to bad attention of government agencies. incident to the government.
weather. The barge, which had a capacity of 250 metric tons, Upon receipt of the text, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) The Palawan NGO Network, Inc. (PNNI) has brought these
had a load of 188 wet metric tons of low grade nickel ore personnel immediately went to the area where the Chinese two incidents to the attention of the Provincial Board and
which was supposed to be shipped to China. vessel was situated to check if there was any oil spill. Not the DENR-PENRO for their immediate investigation and
As a result, the load of 188 tons of low grade nickel ore fell finding a spill, the PCG allowed the Chinese ship to leave action. So far, the Provincial Board is inclined to hold the
into the sea. To date, no marine resource assessment has the area. mining companies responsible for these accidents.
The Save Palawan Movement is not against all mining. However, we believe that key
biodiversity sites---especially ISLAND ECOSYSTEMS, where there are farmlands, coral reefs, mangroves
and many endemic species---should be off-limits. Palawan is our rallying cry.
BIODIVERSITY IS IRREPLACEABLE
1. The country only has 3% old growth forest left, and much of this is in Palawan. 979 hectares of coral reef. Our country is number one in terms of typhoons,
We cannot let this go. Mining and logging go together because you cannot mine so incidents like this are likely to happen over and over.
without cutting trees. MINING IS NOT THE ONLY PATH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
2. Palawan has 17 Key Bio Diversity Sites, 7 protected areas, 2 World Heritage 9. The Mining Industry is putting pressure on the government to make big
sites. We have made commitments to the international community to protect these decisions now that have irreversible far-reaching implications on our future Even
sites. Yet most of the mining applications in Palawan overlap key biodiversity sites. as the government in Chapter 10 of the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016
We need to remember that reforestation does not restore biodiversity. admits that it has not developed, nor is it applying, any standard for measuring the
3 . There are many laws designed to protect Palawan, including its declaration as environmental and social costs of mining. Would it not be more prudent to first
a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve, Mangrove Reserve and Wildlife Reserve. put in place these standards and institutional capability and to call for objective
Three-fourths (3/4) of Palawan has been declared protected. The Palawan SEP law studies like those sponsored by the World Bank before making these decisions?
states that there should be no mining in natural forests. Mining in Palawan is a 10. A total economic valuation (TEV) is even more critical in a fragile island eco-
gross violation of these laws. system like Palawan with mountains, farmlands, mangroves, and coral reefs in
4. The stand of miners that there can be mining in the Southern Part of and along a narrow sliver of land. Mining in any form, whether large scale or small
Palawan while leaving the Northern part for tourism is foolish to say the least. The scale, puts at risk the delicate weave of this ecological system. In fact, an initlal
southern part is equally rich in biodiversity. It is archaic thinking to believe that one TEV study of the Mt. Matalingahan Range in Palawan indicates that the economic
can mine one part of the island without affecting the other. costs far outweigh the benefits from mining.
WE CAN’T COMPROMISE OUR FOOD SUPPLY 11. The carbon credits of Palawan alone - P130 trillion in a future carbon market
according to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development-is more than
5. Palawan is very narrow, and the topograhy steep. Any mining, large or small-
DOUBLE the value of the mineral lode of the entire country. Exploring the merits of
scale, is a risk to the farmlands and fishing resources. Cutting down forests in the
the non- timber produce of Palawan’s forest also offers many exciting possibilities.
mountain causes erosion that coral reefs, and mine tailings spill onto farmlands.
These potential revenue sources are demolished if mining is to be allowed in this
6. Citinickel is currently mining in Narra - the rice granary of Palawan -severely island paradise.
affecting farmers and fishermen, including those from indigenous communities
12. Past and present mining operations in Palawan have not yielded real economic
that depend on the forests in the area. This must be stopped immediately if the law
benefit to Palawan. Bataraza, where Rio Tuba has been mining for 36 years, may
stating a commitment to the welfare of communities is to be followed.
be a first-class municipality in terms of revenues, but its poverty indicators are
7. Fifty (50%) of the fish supply of Metro Manila comes from Palawan. But laterite twice the national average - and it is ranked in the lowest 25% compared to other
tailings from open-pit mines spill into rivers and the ocean, where the chemicals municipalities in the country. Clearly the so-called social benefits from mining have
are absorbed by fish. If ingested, laterite is toxic and can cause cancer. not been felt by the majority of the communities
WE HAVE NOT DEMONSTRATED CAPABILITY TO REGULATE PROPERLY 13. In Palawan, the PROVEN economic thrust is agriculture and eco-tourism, as
8. A large-scale mining company had an accident in March of this year, and their demonstrated by the thriving economy of Puerto Princesa, which earlier banned
barge carrying tons of nickel and other minerals fell into the sea because of bad logging and mining. but its income from tourism in 2009 was Php 2.4 Billion, and
weather. In May, the Chinese vessel of another company ran aground and destroyed it exports 10,600 metric tons of fish annually.
If, in a place as majestic and beautiful as Palawan, choices are made towards an economic strategy which benefits only a few -
and puts at risk the future of the greater good - what hope is there for the rest of the country? The mining companies do not pay for the full cost of
land, air, water, or of the minerals that are brought out to other countries where the downstream industries are located. After all these years,
the mining industry has no significant industrialization footprint in the country.
In other words, our poor are subsidizing the consumerism of the developed countries. Especially the poor from Palawan. That is not fair.
Not when we can avoid the economic, social and environmental costs of mining and at the same time raise development financing by conserving
our patrimony for future generations. We only have to examine our alternatives deeply and refuse to be cowed by the bullying
and scare tactics of those who want quick decisions before we realize what the real score is.
We appeal to our government – please save Palawan from mining before it is too late.
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