:)

2. 
Abundant Resources



Philippines is considered to be 5th mineralized country in
the world, the 3rd country in terms of gold reserves, 4th in
copper and 5th in nickel. Total value of resources could
reach around $840 billion to $1 trillion.
In 2008, the Philippines was the 6th top fish producing
country in the world with its total production of 4.97
million metric tons of fish,
crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants. This constitutes
3.12% of the total world production of 159.1 million metric
tons.
The country has a variety of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources which can lessen
dependence on fuel imports. Oil reserve estimates
exclude potential reserves in Mindanao, Mindoro, the
Visayan Sea and the Spratlys.

3. 
High Levels of Biodiversity


The Philippines is one of the 18 mega-diverse
countries globally. On a per unit area basis, the
country is said to be the most diverse. It ranks 25th
worldwide in the total number of amphibian, bird,
mammal, reptile, and vascular plant species with
10,127 terrestrial species.
Prime Agricultural Land

Agriculture is still the backbone of the Philippine
economy and prime source of livelihood of Filipinos.
About 70% of population belong to the
peasantry.

7. In San Felipe West, reported cases of residents with
LBM and itchy sore throats were observed after
drinking water from wells beside the
impacted river during the 1st week of August.
Agricultural irrigation was not possible as water from
affected river carried whitish substance.
There was a decrease catch of carp fish right after the
TP3 collapse. Goldpanning was impossible in the river
due to tailings deposit. Mine workers were forced to
report to TP3 and Balog River thus, exposed to all kinds
of hazards resulting to several accidents and deaths
(Fact Finding Team, 2012).

9. In Española, Palawan, Citinickel Mining Corporation
disturbed the residents because of faulty mine
tailings system resulted to various negative impacts
to people and environment. In an Environmental
Investigative Mission (EIM) conducted by
environmental and scientist group on November
2012, shows that mine tailings pond is prone to
leakage different water systems in the area. A high
level of nickel content was recorded Pulot Interior,
one of the sample site, with 12,532.47 ppm which is
250 times greater than the maximum tolerable
content of 50 ppm.

11. For decades, the US military dumped toxic
wastes in the waters of Subic Bay. The most
recent incident was in October 2012. In a
news article, Senate investigators have found
out that Glenn Marine violated Philippine
environmental laws. They revealed that it has
no clearance from the Philippine government
to dispose waste in the sea and there is no
equipment to test whether the waste is
harmful to marine life.

13. The USS Guardian is an Avenger Class Mine
Countermeasures Ship, that weighs 1,300 tons
and measures 68.3 meters in length. Worth
$277 million, the minesweeper is equipped
with Precise Integrated Navigation System, a
Surface Radar, Mine Hunting Sonar and Gyro
Compass—all advanced navigation features
needed to locate mines underwater.
Ironically, the US Navy initially claimed that
their trespass was due to navigational error.

15. About 38 of 100 reclamation projects are
proposed to be done in Manila Bay
covering areas like Bulacan, Cavite,
Pampanga, Bataan and NCR, with a total
area of 26, 234 hectares.
 The reclamation project might have
brought serious problems such as flooding,
liquefaction, loss of habitat to marine and
bird species, reduce ecological services
and displacement of people and
communities


17. There were more than 1000 recorded
deaths, more than 800 were missing, more
than 700,000 affected families or
equivalent to more than six million people.
The areas devastated by typhoon Pablo
are geographically and ecologically
connected to places where massive
logging operations have historically taken
place.

19. There are 26 recorded cases of killings among
environmental defenders from year 2012 to
1st quarter of 2013 (including Cristina Morales,
leader of Barug Katawhan). Most of them are
mining activists. One of the bloodiest cases of
killing was in October 2012 when the 27th
Infantry Battalion massacred the pregnant
Juvy Capion and her two sons.

21. Primary forests in the Philippines are
being destroyed due to both logging
and agricultural expansion, significantly
decreasing the Philippine's natural
resources. This type of deforestation is
leading to a variety of global changes,
as well as numerous local changes.
 Landslides caused by widespread
flooding have killed 200 people in the
central and southern Philippines. Massive
deforestation is blamed for the floods.


23. Dynamite fishing is an illegal practice that is
mostly done by people who believe that
this is the best way of catching fish.
 Dynamite fishing distracts the corals reefs
and fish loses the place where they could
reproduce. Fish and other aquatic animals
are very sensitive to these chemicals. Most
of them reduce their swimming abilities.
 Some of the chemicals used in making
dynamites are not good for the human
health.


25. If we want to preserve our beautiful
places here in the country, we
must learn to limit ourselves. We
must learn to stop such actions.