The document provides a historical overview of mining in Marinduque province in the Philippines and its environmental and health impacts. Mining exploration in the 1930s led to widespread deforestation and damage to endemic wildlife. Large-scale copper mining operations from 1969-1991 produced hundreds of millions of kilograms of copper but involved dumping over 300 million tons of mine tailings into Calancan Bay, destroying coral reefs and marine life. Several dam failures contaminated waterways and farmland. The 1996 Boac River disaster involved the release of 3 million cubic meters of mine tailings into rivers and coastal areas, devastating the local ecosystem and communities.

1. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF AND
UPDATES ON MINING IN MARINDUQUE
AND ITS IMPACTS
A presentation of the Marinduque Council for
Environmental Concerns (MACEC) to the
academic forum on the legal implications and
prospects of the Marinduque mining tragedies,
December 9, 2005 U i
D b 9 2005, University of th Phili i
it f the Philippines.
Prepared by Myke R. Magalang, Executive
Secretary

2. Marinduque is an island
province which has a total
land area of 959.3 square
kilometers. It comprises 6
municipalities: Boac (the
capital), Buenavista, Gasan.
it l) B i t G
Mogpog, Sta. Cruz and
Torrijos – where 218
barangays are not evenly
distributed. The island-
province which lies between
the Bondoc Peninsula at the
southeastern part of Luzon
and the island of Mindoro is
encircled by four bodies of
y
water: Tayabas Bay on the
north; Mompong Pass on
the northeast; Tayabas Strait
on the southwest; and,
Sibuyan Sea on the south.

3. Central Marinduque area is part of the Important
Biodiversity Area (IBA) of the province that forms part of
the “Torrijos Watershed Forest Reserve” (coordinates:
13o25’N 121o 57’E) with a total area of 105 hectares. The
)
forest reserve was officially declared as such by virtue of
Presidential Proclamation No. 463 issued on April 6, 1932

4. Exploration: Start of
Environmental Destruction
“Blue Stone Project”
started the exploration
in Marinduque in the
early 1930’s until
Placer Dev’t. Ltd.
Dev’t Ltd
optioned the property
in 1956. Exploration
continues in 1957-1960
which overlaps in the
protected area.

5. During the
exploration phase,
forest covers were
destructed resulting
in degraded so
deg aded soil
because rains and
landslides wash
away fertile topsoil
topsoil.
The area could not
grow back the forest
even after so many
years.

6. Mountains were blasted with dynamites to
conduct geologic mapping. Endemic birds,
flora and fauna and the entire biodiversity in
the area were irreparably damaged.

7. On November 15, 1969, 3,170.5 wet metric tons
of copper concentrates were initially shipped
f
via Japanese vessel Hooryu Maru. Marcopper
Mining Corporation was born out of the TAPIAN
g p
COPPER MINE PROJECT. 24 shipments were
made until September 1970.

8. Machines of destruction: The Tapian Copper Mining
Project originally planned to have an 18,000 tons per day
18 000
milling capacity. In 1974 it was expanded to 30,000 tons
per day. Until 1990, 779.6 million kilograms of copper
metal, 23.0 million grams of gold, and 127.9 million grams
of silver were produced. Mt. Tapian was totally destroyed
and was replaced with Tapian Pit (300 m. depth).

9. TAPIAN PIT:
SOURCE OF
FURTHER
DISASTERS

11. During the operation of the Tapian Copper Project, mine
wastes were dumped in a 176.78 has. San Antonio Tailings
p g
Pond. But in 1974, a huge deposit of copper ore body was
discovered beneath the San Antonio Tailings Pond. The
National Pollution Control Commission approved the
application for surface dumping at Calancan Bay.

12. CALANCAN BAY:
A STORY OF
MASSIVE
DESTRUCTION
A 16-kilometer pipeline
was installed from Mt
Tapian to Calancan Bay in
1975. Almost 30,000 dry
metric tons of tailings per
day were d
d dumped id in
Calancan Bay. Until June
30, 1991, almost 300
million DMT of mine
tailings formed an 80
square kilometer of
tailings dump in the area.
It is visible until now.

14. The people protested
the dumping of mine
wastes in Calancan
and took their case to
the National Pollution
Control Commission
Commission.
But in 27 January
1982, Marcos,
, ,
through a marginal
note, approved the
continuous dumping
ti d i
of tailings on the bay
“without constraints.”
without constraints.

15. In a Sept. 1980
CONFIDENTIAL report of
then AFP Major Gen. and
INP Dir. Gen. Fidel V.
Ramos to the NPCC
Chairman, he confirmed
that “the mine tailings have
already taken its toll in the
bay and have caused
continuous siltation of the
reef. Consequently,
reef Consequently the
coral reefs are now in the
state of deterioration and
destruction. Al
d t ti Also, the
th
marine life which was once
abundant within the areas
is
i nowhere t b f
h to be found.”
d”

16. Mine tailings in Calancan Bay
caused the destruction and death
to aquatic organisms especially in
coral reefs that contribute 10-13%
of the total annual protein for the
people and deprived livelihood to
about 13% of the labor force.

18. Death to marine organisms can reduce the
amount of f
f fishery resources available to
the communities and the people who are
dependent on the bay for their daily
p y y
sustenance and livelihood.

19. Kasabay ng pagpula ng mga bulaklak ng
dapdap, bumalikwas ang mga mamamayan at
umusbong sa Marinduque ang bagong antas ng
pakikibaka . . .

20. IMPACTS
TO PEOPLE’S
HEALTH

21. MYSTERIOUS DISEASES
INCAPACITATED MEN,
WOMEN AND CHILDREN
FROM PRODUCTIVE
VENTURES

22. All toxic
chemicals
whether added or
released naturally
l d t ll
from the precious
ores by acid mine
drainage also
cause a variety ofy
illnesses to
people when
these chemicals
are ingested or
inhaled.
inhaled

23. Future residents of Calancan Bay area?

24. DOH Study of March 5-7, 1997
at Calancan Bay revealed that out of
108 patients:
• 6 have abnormal methemoglobin
level;
• 10 have positive sulthemoglobin level;
• 1 child has elevated blood MERCURY
level;
• 9 have elevated blood LEAD level;
• 20 hhave elevated bl d CYNANIDE
l t d blood
level;
• more or less 54% were anemic

25. The DOH Health Study of October 1997
in Calancan b
i C l bay area revealed th t out
l d that t
of 59 subjects:
100% have elevated blood LEAD level;
20% have blood CYANIDE level higher
g
than the acceptable limits;
43 subjects have anemia.
The DOH announced that they have no available funds to
finance their recommended full blown health assessment
to determine the extent of impact to people’s health. They
people s
estimated that at least P14,000,000.00 is needed for the
health assessment. The DOH utilized P2,400,000.00 for the
detoxification of 7 children or P342,857.00 wach p
, patient.

26. On March 5, 1998 Pres. Ramos issued
Presidential Proclamation No. 1172 “declaring
No declaring
a state of calamity in barangays Ipil,
Kamandugan and Botilao in Sta. Cruz,
Marinduque d
M i d due t elevated bl d mercury
to l t d blood
level among school children.”

27. IN MEMORIAM
+ Leonida P. Ricohermoso, 61
7-18-1999
7 18 1999
+ Eduardo Q. Diaz, 32
11-23, 1998
+ Allan P. Quimdoza, 20
5-30-1998
+ Isabel P. Garnica, 45
6-30-2004
+ Marte C. Latorre, 14
5-9-1998
5 9 1998
+ Adelina R. Legitimas, 49
4-12-2003
+ Ivan Rey P. Marimon, 3
2-4-2003

28. IN MEMORIAM
+ Feliza L. Morales, 55 (7-29-2002)
+ Francis R. Palmero, 16 (
, (3-21-1995) )
+ Jasmin R. Pantoja, 12 (7-16-1997)
+ Renato E. Pantoja, Jr., 15 (8-24-1997)
+ Rebecca E Pantoja 3 mos., (12-16-1997)
E. Pantoja, mos (12 16 1997)
+ Joselito R. Panuelos, 2 days (6-8-1998)
+ Jessabel R. Panuelos, 24 hrs. (10-8-1998)
+ Maricel Pantoja Par, 22 (4-12-1999)
+ Princess Mariel P. Par, 2 days (3-31-1999)
+ Princess Marinella P. Par, 2 days (3-31-1999)
, y ( )
+ Ernesto R. Pedernal, 50 (1-23-1995)
+ Luningning P. Pedernal, 12 (11-01-1997)
+ Catalina R Postrado 72 (8 6 1997
R. Postrado, (8-6-1997
+ Marlon P. Latorre, 12 (1-28-1997)

29. IN MEMORIAM
+ Elino Mantala Permejo, 59 (11-29-2001)
+PPresentacion P P
i P. Permejo, 46 (10 15 2003)
j (10-15-2003)
+ Segunda M. Permejo, n.i. (4-30-2002)
+ Dioscoro P. Pizarra, 57 (3-16-2000)
( )
+ Marvic F. Quindoza, 13 (4-9-1998)
+ Cecille P. Regencia, 20 (12-19-2000)
+ Maribel P. Regencia, 31 (4-9-2004)
P Regencia
+ Lucia P. Revilla, 76 (1-22-2002)
+ Maricel Riego, 20 (6-6-1995)
+ Alf d Ri
Alfredo Riego, 19 (5 1 1996)
(5-1-1996)
+ Pedro L. Villasanta, 61 (7-15-1997)
+ Policarpio P. Regencia, n.i. (n.i.)
p g ( )

30. IN MEMORIAM
+
AMBETH T. ROLLUQUE
Extreme weight loss; thin to the bone;
+
RODEN REYNOSO
Lead and arsenic poisoning
+
MA. CRISTINA LIMBO
Acute myelogenous leukemia

31. IN MEMORIAM

32. SAN ANTONIO COPPER
PROJECT

33. In mid-1991, plants and equipment were
transferred from Tapian to San Antonio for the
new project. The new site is three kilometers
away from the Tapian mine site. It was estimated
that 354 million tons of waste rocks may be
derived from the new mine project. It
necessitated the construction of Maguilaguila
Waste Dump and Siltation Dam and the Catmon
Dump.
There was no alternative site for safe mine
tailings disposal. Even without proper risk
assessment plan, the DENR approved the use of
the Tapian Pit as depository of mine tailings.
The new project is envisioned to have a 20-year
operating life and a yield of 198 million tons of
copper ore.

34. Outlet of Maguila-guila Waste Dam:
Constructed for the San Antonio Copper
Project, it has the capacity to accommodate
j , p y
an estimate of 180-200 million metric tons
of waste rock.

35. MAGUILAGUILA
SILTATION
DAM: Another
source of
f
tragedies

37. Contaminated wastes
are carried by
floodwaters into
creeks, rivers and
seas and cause
siltation and pollution
of water bodies
thereby reducing the
volume of fish catch.
Contaminated
floodwaters also
poison the soil
causing its inability
to grow crops

38. Waste generated from
mining is huge so that
rains and typhoons
cause landslides, dam
failures, or bursting of
pipelines consequently
burying low-lying farms
low lying
and nearby fishing
grounds.

39. On December 6, 1993, Maguilaguila Dam collapsed
and caused massive flooding in the low-lying areas
low lying
of Mogpog. Since then, Mogpog river was declared
biologically dead. Two children drowned during the
flood. Farm animals died and agricultural areas
were covered with contaminated mine wastes.

40. The story behind the blind
centurion by the river: a prelude to
the Boac River 1996 Disaster!

41. BOAC RIVER
DISASTER OF
1996
On March 23, 1996 at 10:00 in the
evening, Friday, there was a massive
seepage at drainage tunnel 190 of the
Tapian Pit. The seepage actually started
in August 1995 but it was not properly
addressed by the government despite th
dd d b th td it the
people’s insistent demand to check the
unusual seepage in the tunnel
tunnel.

42. This is the only
available photo
p
of the first day
of tailings flow
from the Tapian
Pit into the
Makulapnit and
Boac Rivers on
B Ri
March 24, 2005.
Flow of tailings
at Boac River in
the succeeding
days.

44. The characteristics of the
tailings flow is so unique
that is has to fill in all
gaps in its way before
flowing. Contaminated
tailings discharge from
Tapian Pit for the first 15
days is estimated at 5 105-10
cubic meters per second.

48. River fishing was heavily affected by the disaster;
It also impacted on rice farming which generated
irrigated water from Boac River; it also resulted to
loss of access to market by farmer-traders;
laundry services of marginal laundrywomen were
impacted at once. When the talinings reached the
once
coastal area, small fisherfolks sustaines losses in
their income for daily fish catch; fish retailers were
also affected.

49. The 1996 Boac
River Disaster is
the biggest of its
kind in terms of
magnitude in the
it d i th
entire history of
mining in the
g
Philippines.
Marinduqe is one of
q
the smallest island-
provinces in the
Philippines which
hosted the largest
copper mining
company in Asia
Asia-
Pacific Region

50. EFFECTS OF THE 1996 BOAC
RIVER DISASTER
almost 3 million cubic meters of contaminated
tailings were deposited in the 27-km span of Boac
River and the coastal areas near the river mouth;
extensive impact on the river ecosystem; the
devastating effects to the river and the coastal
ecosystems were of such magnitude that the United
Nations declared the tragedy as an environmental
disaster;
onrush of tailings downstream displaces the river
g p
water and flooded the low-lying barangays,
destroyed crops and vegetable plantations,
eliminated endemic aquatic fauna, clogged the
irrigation waterway to ricefields;

51. Road sections straddling the river were damaged
which isolated 7 barangays affecting the people’s
trade and access to services;
during the early days of the disaster, the impacts
adversely affected th l
d l ff t d the local residents (+/ 20 000)
l id t (+/- 20,000)
whose livelihood activities were river-dependent;
sources of drinking water in the immediate
vicinities were also directly affected and
contaminated with mine tailings;
the disaster affected a total of 47/61 barangays
or an estimate of 7,500 households or 2/3 of the
entire population;
on March 28, 1996 Pres. Ramos signed
Proclamation No. 778 placing the municipality fo
Boac under a stae of calamity

52. ECONOMIC EFFECTS
The estimated foregone income in 1996
alone is P50.1 million which is more than
50% of the total provincial income of P95 0
P95.0
million; and more than twice the total
municipal income of Boac of P21 million in
p
the same year; twice the actual
compensation paid out to the damage
claimants for the same period.
l i t f th i d
(Bennagen)

53. HEALTH EFFECTS
The people along Boac River fear
that several years after the disaster
y
and due to their continuous
exposure to the mine tailings, they
p g , y
will suffer the same illnesses being
experienced by the people in
p y p p
Calancan Bay area.

54. August 2, 1996: People VS. John Eric Loney,
Criminal Case Nos. 96-44, 96-47, 96-51, 96-53;
People VS. Steven Paul Reid, Criminal Case
Nos. 96-45, 96-48, 96-50, 96-55; People VS.
96 45, 96 48, 96 50, 96 55;
Pedro B. Hernandez, Criminal Case Nos. 96-46,
96-49, 96-52, 96-54.

55. REHABILITATION?
After grouting Tunnel 190 to stop
the flow of tailings, Placer Dome
invested another tens of millions of
dollars to construct a dredge
channel at the mouth of Boac River
(1,000 m. in length x 100 m. in width
x 6 m. in depth), to contain the
coarse fractions of tailings and
prevent them from escaping into the
sea!!

56. The dredging project itself
caused massive disturbance to
the coastal ecosystems;
destroyed coral reefs and
breeding grounds for marine
biota; and destroyed the swamps
and mangrove forests which
sustain the local people’s daily
protein need.

57. REHABILITATION?

59. Tailings along the river were placed in bags and
left deteriorating in the river banks. They called
it river clean-up!! According to Placer Dome:
“Placer Dome deposited sufficient funds in the bank
of an escrow holder to remediate the remaining
tailing in levee banks, spillovers and patches along
the Boac River. The escrow holder is a large
g
institutional Bank in New York, New York. The
international engineering consulting firm URS must
certify that F Holdings ( a major shareholder in
y g j
Marcopper at the time Placer entered into the clean-
up arrangements), has completed the remediation
work at specified milestones. Once the Bank receives
o spec ed esto es O ce t e a ece es
certain documentation, including a copy of the
certification statement from URS, it releases a
portion of the escrowed funds from the bank account
to F Holdings.”

60. PLACER DOME left the
country unceremoniously like a
thief in the night
night.
“They dumped their wastes,
They
they dumped their shares, they
dumped their responsibilities!”
responsibilities!

61. WE FIGHT FOR OUR
FUTURE

63. OUR STRUGGLE …
CONTINUES
March 24, 1997: The First Bishop of Boac, + Rafael M. Lim and then
Mayor Roberto Madla, led the people in effecting a “closure order” to
Marcopper and Placer Dome The padlocked the compan ’s offices in
Dome. They company’s
Marinduque.

66. we succeeded in demanding damage compensation to the victims, EGF
was institutionalized as a national policy;
we prevented the introduction to the Philippines of submarine tailings
disposal (STD), banning STD in the country becomes a national policy.

68. MARINDUQUE . . .
the smallest island-province in the country
which hosted the largest copper mining
hi h h t d th l t i i
operation in the Asia-Pacific region;
one of the only 7 Fourth Class provinces
in the Country;
Ranked as 14th poorest province in the
p p
Philippines;
Ranked as having the 3rd most denuded
forests.
f t
Has a poverty incidence of 54.78%

69. NO TO REOPENING
OF MARCOPPER!

70. Welcome to MARINDUQUE
...

71. SOLIDARITY!