Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) has been operating in Bataraza since 1975. By 2000, the company has produced and shipped out more than twelve (12) million metric tons of beneficiated nickel silicate ore to Japan since 1977.

1. YES, EVERYONE SHOULD SEE
BATARAZA, PALAWAN NOW.
Severe erosion
around the mining
road used by Rio
Tuba. During the
rainy season the
water creates deep
clefts on the side
of the road. No
mitigating measures
have been put into
place to reduce
erosion.
And see how its forests, biodiversity, indigenous culture
and farmlands have been ravaged by mining.
Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) has been operating CLAIMS OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE EXAGGERATED. Non-formal
in Bataraza since 1975. By 2000, the company has produced education was started by government before RTNMC embarked on its alternative formal
and shipped out more than twelve (12) million metric tons of education to indigenous peoples. Likewise, road development in Bataraza was made possible
by government funds. RTNMC housing provisions and alternative formal education are
recently implemented programs, part of the company’s so-called “social responsibility”,
which was not voluntary. Instead it is but a result of the pressure from local communities
and civil society groups who opposed the establishment of the hydrometallurgical
is below the poverty threshold level, and one of the top 10 poorest processing plant in the EIA consultations and public hearings in 2001 and 2002.
municipalities in Palawan.
Corporate track record must be consistently established near the Hydrometallurgical
before a corporation can claim to being responsible. Processing Plants (HPP)
Was mining responsible in these instances? Tagpisa, Ocayan
Sumbiling Drinking water supply
FARMLAND DAMAGE AND COMPENSATION - As far back as 20 years Drinking water supply 1st Tailing Dam Manganese: 64.7 micro g /L
ago, farmers were seeking compensation of almost P20 million for their losses to Nickel: 141 micro g /L (Allowable standard is 50)
farmlands. An exhausting haggling process dragged on for years, until the famers (Allowable standard is 10)
HPPs
were constrained to accept a measly P1.4 million in 1997, when RTNMC was
undergoing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the conversion
of their mining permit to a mineral production sharing agreement. Until now, many
farmers feel they have not been adequately compensated for the pollution of their Tagupan River RTNMC Townsite
farmlands and loss in agricultural production. Chromium:
72.3 micro g /L
WATER CONTAMINATION – In many potable sources of water for the (Allowable standard is 50)
communities, nickel has been found to be in concentrations of more than 10 times Manganese:
the allowable content of Japanese water quality standards. Hexavalent chromium 222 micro g /L
(Allowable standard is 50)
Processing Plant (HPP) has also been found.
DISREGARD FOR PROPER LEGAL AND GOVERNANCE
PROCESSES:
As in other areas of the country, mining in Bataraza has continued
without the required clearances from government agencies. to imperil biodiversity, livelihood and the culture of local
communities because companies continue to take advantage of
other people’s poverty and ignorance, because the government
PCSD staff) was made possible when the area was converted into alienable
and disposable land and titled under former employees of the mining company allows it, and because there are people who can be bought.
under questionable circumstances.
Lesions from exposure
of the municipality was made at the behest of RTNMC, to enable the mining to contaminated water
area that supports livelihood of farmers and indigenous communities.
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY - RTNMC has vehemently opposed the
formation of another multipartite monitoring team (MMT) for its HPP operations,
and refused the inclusion of additional representatives from civil society groups,
despite petitions to push for transparency and broaden participation in monitoring
efforts.
Sign the petition
by going to
REAL PROPERTY TAXES WERE PAID STARTING 2005 ONLY and www.no2miningin
the appraisal value of the real property continues to be contested before the Tax Palawan.com
Appeals Board. In 2008, RTNMC and Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) paid
total real property taxes of more than P89 million when the municipality’s appraisal
or texting NO2MINING
value was P120 million plus. In 2009, the two mining companies paid P69 million <name>/<age>/<location>
after seeking a 20% discount for paying taxes on time.
MOST WORKERS EMPLOYED BY RTNMC ARE MIGRANTS, NOT Sender shall be charged
LOCALS. The total employment generated by mining companies in 2008 was
816 individuals, as compared to agriculture, which accounts for 21,636 individuals
P2.50 per text.
View ‘The Price Palawan
BATARAZA IS STILL MALARIA-INFESTED. According to data from
is paying for mining’ on
the 6th leading cause of mortality in Bataraza. www.youtube.com.
This campaign is supported by
MANILA BULLETIN FP.indd 1 4/1/11 10:07 AM