Save Palawan Movement Regina Paz Lopez Doc Gerry's Dream No To Mining In Palawan Mining Impacts on Palawan as an Island Ecosystem – an NGO Perspective April 2011

2. BioDiversity

4. Philippine Land Vertebrates: 2011 Estimates
Total species Endemic Species % Endemic
Land Mammals 237 181 76%
Breeding Land 395 172 44&
Birds
Reptiles 259 168 65%
Amphibians 102 78 77%
TOTAL 993 601 61%
Spain 435 25 6%
Brazil 3131 788 25%

5. Source: Haribon Foundation 2003 based on ESSC 1999

6. Source: Haribon Foundation 2003 based on ESSC 1999

7. Source: Haribon Foundation 2003 based on ESSC 1999

8. Source: Haribon Foundation 2003 based on ESSC 1999

9. Source: Haribon Foundation 2003 based on ESSC 1999

10. The Island Ecosystem
A. Mangrove D. Cropland G. Seagrass beds
B. Forest E. Human Settlement
C. Coral F. River/Creek
The mining area with open pit is letter H. B2 represents denuded forest.
The darker tint of the coral reef at the left side represents dead corals.

11. Acidic Pagcolbon
river in
Rapu-Rapu.

12. The shore at the outfall of Pagcolbon River. Water from the outlet
is also acidic.

13. Pagcolbon upstream Pagcolbon outlet
Contaminated Tailings, mud, silt carried by rainwater by run-off
and river/creeks downslope towards the sea.

14. Contaminated Tailings, mud and
silt that flowed downslope towards
the sea.
(Ungay and Hollowstone)

15. Fish Killing in Rapu-Rapu (2007)

18. - 13 species of seagrass recorded in Palawan
(81% of the known seagrass species in the
country)
- 31 species of mangroves in Palawan (90%
of the known mangrove species in the
country)
- 44,500 hectares of mangrove forests in
Palawan (40% of the remaining mangroves
in the country)
- 379 species of corals (82% of the total coral
species recorded in the entire country)
(Credit: Conservation International)

19. - 89% of total reef fish recorded in the
country is found in the corridor
- 4 of the 5 marine turtles are found in
Palawan
- 15 of the 25 recorded marine mammals are
reported from Palawan
- 18 species of freshwater fish is found in
Palawan (50% endemic to the province)
(Credit: Conservation Internationa

20. - 26 species of amphibians (25% endemic to
the country, majority are confined to the
corridor
- 69 species of reptiles found in the corridor
(29% are endemic to the country)
- 279 species of birds (10% are endemic to
the country)
- 34% of bird species are migratory, making
the region a vital flyway for migratory
birds
(Credit: Conservation International)

21. - 58 species of terrestrial mammals are
recorded, 19 or 33% are endemic to the
country, 16 are restricted to the corridor
(Credit: Conservation International)

22. Palawan as an Island Ecosystem
• “Palawan is composed of a long main island
lying in a northeast to southwest axis and
surrounding it are clusters of lesser
islands…..The main island has a tall steep
mountain spine running down its length
fringed by narrow coastal plans protected
from storm waves by fringing coral reefs and
mangrove swamps. Although seemingly
lush and bountiful, the environment of
Palawan is fragile and its topsoils are
relatively thin, poor and prone to erosion.”
(Source: Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan, Towards Sustainable
Development, Prepared by the Palawan Integrated Area Development
Project Office with the assistance of Hunting Technical Services Limited
England in association with the Orient Integrated Development Consultants,
Inc., Philippines and Sir Mac Donald and Partners, England)

23. Effect of mining,
topsoil is removed

24. In Palawan, rain induced landslides can affect
43.7% of the island.
Palawan is No. 27 of 32 provinces with poverty
incidence of 40% which is susceptible to hazards.
Its not worth the risk!
(MTPDP – Chapter. Ten.)

29. Platinum Group Metals, Inc.
(PGMC); photo by Lorenzo Tan

30. With Mining Application!!!
Effect of mining, topsoil is removed
Closer view of PGMC mine site; Photo by Bandillo ng Palawan
(August 2007)

37. Mining area of Berong Nickel Corporation which plans to expand large-scale
mining operations into natural forests. The mined area forms part of the
Victoria-Anepahan Range, a key biodiversity area.

38. Natural Forest with
Mining Application
Conservation International-Phils
Damage of mining
Landsat Image
Prepared by:
Year 1987

39. Natural Forest with
Mining Application
Conservation International-Phils
Damage of mining
Landsat Image
Prepared by:
Year 2001

40. With mining application!!!
Expansion of mining activities are being pursued in the Bulanjao range
which is still covered with natural forests which serve as watershed to
lowland communities. (Photo by CI)

41. Mined area of Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation

42. Limestone quarry in Gotok,
Sandoval, Bataraza

43. Dumpsite within the mining site of RTN

44. Governing Laws and Policies
• Proclamation No. 219 (1967) establishing
Palawan as a Game Refuge and Wildlife
Sanctuary
• Proclamation No. 2152 (1981) establishing
Palawan as a Mangrove Reserve
• UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve
• National Integrated Protected Areas
System (NIPAS, January 1992)
• Republic Act No. 7611 (or the Strategic
Environmental Plan for Palawan, or SEP
law, June 1992)

45. Issues of Governance

46. MTPDP 2011 – 2016, Chapter 10
(Final Draft)
• Challenges and opportunities to ensure
ecological integrity:
1. Transparency on public disclosure.
2. Equitable distribution on mining benefits.
3. No standard resource and environment
valuation (full costbenefit analysis).

47. Continued..
4. Conflicting and overlapping policies.
5. Insufficient capacity of government for
environment and natural resources mgt.
6. Inadequate implementation of laws.
7. Insufficient program to increase value added
natural resources.

48. Applications for Mineral MINING APPLICATIONS
Exploration, Mineral Production El Nido -4
on the “Last Frontier”
150 has.
Sharing Agreement (MPSA) and Silica/Nat Gas
Small Scale Mining
Permit (SSMP) in Palawan
Taytay-12
30,820.50 has.
Coron- 6
San Vicente- 5 573 has.
4,993.13 has.
Silica
Puerto Princesa City-42
112,154.67 has
Dumaran -5
Aborlan – 79 812.67 has.
69,502.92 has. Silica
Quezon-41 Roxas- 31
93,181.83 has 7,473.50 has
Nickel and limestone Silica
Narra- 44
Rizal- 11 61,443.31 has
24,833.45 has
Nickel
Espanola -12
45,824.51 has
Balabac - 5 Nickel and limestone
17,093.63 has Brooke’s Pt. 37
Nickel, Gold, Copper, 121,969.35 has Prepared by the
Chromite Nickel
Bataraza- 22
Palawan NGO
60,642.30 has. Network, Inc.
Limestone, Nickel,HPP
(PNNI)

49. Palawan’s Key Biodiversity Areas Mining Applications

50. Health Hazards

51. Water Pollution
Affected coastal
area of
Colandorang Bay,
Balabac due to
abandoned and
unrehabilitated
copper mine
(Photo by Professor Patrick Regoniel)

52. Metal Poison Health Risks
(Marinduque)

53. Old Man with Blisters and Boils (Marinduque)

54. Boils and scars due to acid
mine drainage and heavy
metal poisoning
(which flowed through
the rivers)
- Siocon, Zamboanga
del Norte

55. Wilson Manuba and his father Pedro – both Calancan Bay fishermen are
suffering from severe Arsenic Poisoning, they can no longer work.

56. Agriculture and Food Security
Issues

57. Unhealthy soil caused by
mining
Healthy soil

58. Healthy Rice Field which is in danger Barren Rice Field which is biologically
due to the acid mine drainage to be dead for 16 years due to mine tailings of
brought by Intex Resources Marcopper
(Oriental Mindoro) (Marinduque)

59. Rice Field
Barrier
Toxicated Rice Field
Other side of the river used to be a rice field, but is now dead due to the toxic
chemicals from operations of Victoria Gold Mines in Benguet. Farmers built a small
barrier to prevent contamination on the other side.

60. Used to be a healthy rice field with 7.33 M kg of rice worth US$ 2.27M per annum,
but is now dead due to the toxic pollution of the rivers caused by mining.
(Cervantes, Abra)

62. As of 2008, NGOs placed the count at 800
abandoned mine sites have not been cleaned up
while the MGB insists that there are only seven
major abandoned mines collectively known as
“The Dirty Seven” for their levels of pollution.
Clean-up costs are estimated in billions of dollars
and the damage caused will be never be fully
reversed.
- Legacy of Disasters 2011, published by Alyansa Tigil Mina

63. “The Dirty Seven”
1. Bagacay Mines – Philippine Pyrite Corporation
Bagacay, Hinabangan, Western Samar (1956 – 1992)

64. “The Dirty Seven”
2. Tagburos Mines – Palawan Quick Silver Mines
Tagburos, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (1953 – 1976)

65. “The Dirty Seven”
3. Basay Mines – Basay Mining Corp.
Brgy. Malinao, Basay, Negros Oriental (1978 – 1994)

66. “The Dirty Seven”
4. Mogpog Mines – Consolidated Mines Inc.
Mogpog, Marinduque (1977 – 1979)

67. Heavy Metal Poisoning (Marinduque)
Dead Mogpog River – Acid Mine Drainage

68. “The Dirty Seven”
5. Benguet Mines – Black Mountain Mines
Tuba, Benguet (years of operation not determined)

69. “The Dirty Seven”
6. Benguet Exploration - Thanksgiving Mine Inc.
Tuba, Benguet (years of operation not determined)

70. “The Dirty Seven”
7. Atok Mines – Western Minolco
Atok, Benguet (1974 - 1982)

71. Insufficient SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS
to the Local Community
• Bataraza, Palawan: After almost 30 years of mining operations of Rio
Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC), the municipality of Bataraza
lags behind other municipalities in the delivery of basic services, such as
electricity, water, transportation and education and remains to be among
the poorest municipalities of the province. Data from the mining company
contained in their 2001 Environmental Impact Statement for their
Hydrometallurgical Processing Plant (HPP) Project indicate such poverty
incidence.
Mined waste dump site which
might flow towards the forest

72. Which has more weight?
Jobs, scholarships, day
care centers,
infrastructure,
revenues/taxes
OR
Clean air, clean and adequate
water supply, productive
farmlands, healthy coral reefs
and fishery resources,
watersheds, biodiversity

73. “A 50-year old tree has a
value of $193,250”
(approximately Php9M)
$62,000 - oxygen, air pollution
(Prof TM Das of Univ. of Calcutta)
control and soil pollution
control (Php 3M)
$37,500 - water (P1.8M)
$31,250 - organic fertilizer
(P1.5M)
$31,200 – recycles (P1.5M)
$31,250 - habitat (P1.5M)
(source: Conservation International)

75. Mount Mantalingahan

76. Mount Mantalingahan

77. Mount Mantalingahan

78. Mount Mantalingahan

79. Mount Matalingahan

80. Mount Mantalingahan

81. Mount Mantalingahan
Rich Biodiversity

82. Mount Mantalingahan
The “Katutubo”

83. Mount Mantalingahan
The “Katutubo kids”

84. Mount Bulanjao

85. Mount Bulanjao

86. Bulanjao Rice Field

88. Sibuyan Island
• GALAPAGOS OF ASIA
- because of the magnificence of its flora and fauna
• WORLD’S DENSEST FOREST
(Identified by National Museum)
• In a single hectare, 1,551 trees comprising
123 species, which 54 were endemic
• With 131 Species of Birds
• CENTER OF ENDEMISM
(Field Museum in Chicago Illinois)
• 35 endangered and endemic species in almost all
barangays outside the protected areas.

89. Sibuyan Island

90. Sibuyan Island

91. Sibuyan Island
Enchanted Sibuyan Stream

92. Sibuyan Island
Sibuyan clear water

93. Sibuyan Island
Some Endemic Species of Sibuyan

95. Sibuyan Island
• MPSA (Mineral Production Sharing Agreement)
• 1,580.8010 hectares approved
• 3,578.4102 hectares for application
• EP (Exploration Applications)
• 15,046.3687 hectares for application

96. Sibuyan Island
MINING APPLICATIONS!!!

97. Economic

98. PROMOTING CLIMATE CHANGE
ADAPTATION
IN CITY TOURISM PROGRAMS FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The
Puerto Princesa Experience

99. In line with the City’s sustainable development
program there are only two major projects that are
being promoted heavily : TOURISM……
 Tourist Income: 2.4B
 Tourist Arrivals:
268,942 (2009)
 Most number
foreign visitors:
American, Korean,
German, Japanese,
Chinese, Canadian,
Australian French
and Swiss

100. ….Agriculture
 FISHING
 10,600 MT fish
exports
 1.8 MT sold at local
market
 Shoreline stretches
over 416 kms.
 Coastal waters covers
327,583 has.
 Supplies 50% of fish
requirements in
Metro Manila

101. Governance
 Efficiency of Service
Delivery
 Initiatives to Promote
Transparency

102. • Muro – Ami
• Cyanide Fishing
• Trawl Fishing
• Dead Corals due to
dynamite fishing

103. With the comprehensive environmental
program dubbed as
“Bantay Puerto” (Puerto Princesa Watch)
Forest cover increased from 52% in 1992
to 63% at present
Source: Environmentally Critical Areas Network Zoning Project /PCSDS

104. HYBRID SOLAR AND WIND
TURBINE LAMP POST

105. HYBRID SOLAR AND WIND
TURBINE LAMP POST

106. …TODAY...
Because of new policies and legislations, Puerto
Princesa is now …...
A booming tourist destination

107. BEFORE PRESENT
50 Million Investments 10 Billion
7 Banks 32 Banks
3 Hotels 110 Hotels
Infrastructure Concrete Roads
12,000 Tourists 425,000 Tourists
1 Flight a week 11 flights maximum
0 Monuments World Heritage Site
Geological

108. Magandang Pilipinas Ecotourism Project
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN: DOLPHIN WATCHING

109. Magandang Pilipinas Ecotourism Project
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN: Brgy. Tulingan Fishermen’s Association
• Organized and trained the Brgy Tulingan Fisherman’s Association with 38
members
• 50% of collection is retained by the association for operations and maintenance.
• Reporting of illegal fishing in Puerto Bay

110. Magandang Pilipinas Ecotourism Project
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN: Mangrove River Cruise
Sitio San Carlos, Brgy. Bacungan

111. Magandang Pilipinas Ecotourism Project
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN

112. Magandang Pilipinas Ecotourism Project
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN: Brgy. Iwahig, Iwahig River

113. Magandang Pilipinas Ecotourism Project
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN: Iwahig Firefly Watching & Mangrove River
Cruise
GOLD AWARD WINNER
2010 Pacific-Asia
Tourism
Association

114. Magandang Pilipinas Ecotourism Project
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN
DalubKaragatan Floating School and Pambato Reef Snorkeling
Honda Bay, Brgy. Sta. Lourdes

115. Magandang Pilipinas Ecotourism Project
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN: Spelunking at Ugong Rock

116. Magandang Pilipinas Ecotourism Project
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN: Spelunking at Ugong Rock
•Organized the Tagabinet Community Tourism Association, Inc. with 24 members
(96% female and 4% male)

117. Magandang Pilipinas Ecotourism Project
PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN
COMPARATIVE VISITORS TRAFFIC & REVENUE GENERATED
YEAR 2008 YEAR 2009 YEAR 2010
Visitors Income Visitors Income Visitors Income
(in Million (in Million (in Million PHP)
PHP) PHP)
Brgy. Tulingan 43 0.02 633 0.28 724 0.31
Fishermen’s Association,
Inc.
Mangrove River Cruise 254 0.04 928 0.37 474 0.21
(Sitio San Carlos, Brgy.
Bacungan)
Iwahig Firefly Watching 283 0.06 2,844 0.53 5,113 1.04
Honda Bay, Brgy. Sta. 597 0.06 14,645 0.68 18,728 0.94
Lourdes
Spelunking & Summit 109 0.01 1,333 0.13 4,064 0.35
View (Ugong Rock, Brgy.
Tagabinet)
TOTAL: 1,286 0.19 20,383 1.99 29,103 2.85

118. The LOHA’s Market
www.inessence-
organics.com/images/site/market...

119. NAURU
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Karst_following_phosphate_mining_on_Naur

120. NAURU
www.jandvwilliams.com/Nauru_photos.html

121. NAURU
http://www.albionmonitor.com/0304a/nauru.html

122. Nauru Sibuyan Island

123. Threatened Bird
Mining Applications
Protected Areas
Vegetation Map
Localities

124. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO
GO THIS ROUTE???!!!

126. PASIG RIVER
The Lifeline of our Nation

127. Paco Headwater BEFORE

128. Paco Headwater as of April 6, 2011

129. Paco Headwater BEFORE

130. Paco Headwater as of February 14, 2011

131. OSMEÑA as of April 6, 2011

132. OSMEÑA as of April 27, 2011

133. Paco Tenement as of April 6, 2011

134. Paco Tenement as of April 27, 2011

135. Paco Tenement as of April 27, 2011

136. Paco Tenement as of March 30, 2011

137. Paco Tenement as of March 30, 2011

138. Behind Malacañang: Estero De San Miguel

139. Near Malacañang
Estero De San Miguel
Pictures taken last January 18, 2011

140. SAN MIGUEL
SECTION 1
WATER SYSTEM
SECTION MAP
SECTION 32
SECTION
SECTION 5 SECTION 4