Ma. Ricaella Dawn S.

Cardenas
2012-39397 BS Community Development

Peoples Mining Forum

I have always had a conflicted stand on the issue of Mining in our country. I entered
UP under the BS Mining Engineering program in DMMME then shifted to BS
Community Development (CSWCD) after four academic years. I have been exposed
to the contrasting realities of such industries through community field work and,
mine and plant visits. Two things are clear; our communities remain poor and
continuously oppressed, and there is indeed responsible mining in the Philippines.
Our university produces Mining and Metallurgical Engineers who are adept and
skilled in their field through years of studying the sciences and engineering in this
industry. From my experience, it is also the same with other universities such as
Adamson University, Bicol University, St. Louis University Baguio and etc. It goes
without saying that they are taught not only the technical and engineering aspect,
but also how a good mining operation works; how it should not pollute and degrade
the environment. While large-scale mining companies have safe practices,
unfortunate disasters still occur such as the Marcopper mining disaster in
Marinduque and the tailing spill in Philex Padcal mine. The destruction it caused to
the environment and surrounding communities are massive and it persists long-
term. The mining issue in our country is complex and multidimensional. There are
numerous downsides to it; unregulated and irresponsible small-scale mines,
destruction of Indigenous Peoples, unaudited exportation of minerals, profiteering of
foreign capitalists, to name a few. For the upside, mining provides job opportunities,
high wage employment to professionals, and social services such as schools and
roads are being put up where mining sites are located and etc.

Undeniably, mining has immense contribution to progress and development. But

what kind of progress? Is this development we are speaking of inclusive? Does this
include the poor, marginalized and oppressed? Or does this create a bigger gap
between them and the rich? Does providing schools and roads make it okay to
displace the communities who have devoted their lives to their land? (IPs concept of
land is life; IPs harassed and killed during the process of displacement). Why are
regions with heavy mining operations still poor? Do the mining companies actually
take responsibility for environmental disasters? How do you rehabilitate lands which
have been irreversibly damaged? What will happen to the communities which have
no more healthy lands to till after the shutdown of mining companies once the ores
have been depleted? These are some questions we should ponder on as weigh on
the issue.

The mining issue is not and should not be confined to the science and economy of
it. We should take into consideration the communities which are affected by such
industry. Mining companies and communities can peacefully coexist; where both
benefit from the practice. We need to give the communities their voice, which will
be listened to, so that necessary compromises will be enacted as to ensure that
they will have their equal share. We need social justice. Also, our mining industry
should be revamped in that it promotes national industrialization. Our current
setting shows that foreign nationals abuse and take advantage of third-world
countries, taking our resources and leaving us dry and still poor. We need to fight for
our communities, as much as we fight for the development of our country. While we
remain to exclude them, we will never achieve true and just development for our
country.