Ethan Adrian R.

Jainar 12 – STEM F 07/25/2019

MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES
A destruction of environment due to mining. It has various advantages and disadvantages that affects the
environment and the lives of every human being in the Philippines. Mining is the process of digging mines to obtain
minerals, metals, and jewels that serves as the livelihood to every human being.  It gives people some of the resources
needed for modern civilization, but it can lead to environmental harm. Some are opposite and based on opposition to
destructive mining practices and others dislike mining in general. Humans need a wide range of natural resources to
create the products modern civilization needs. While alternative forms of energy are becoming more worthwhile, most
of the areas need coal, natural gas, and uranium to provide energy. Similarly, oil is necessary for powering vehicles and
the transportation industry. Mining allows people to use these resources.

Mining is one of the resources that mostly common Filipinos choose as their source of living. A mine is a pit of
tunnel wherein a miner used to dig in getting minerals such as coal, gold, and diamonds are taken. According to
Josephine C. Maguad, Senior Environmental Management Specialist of EMB- Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR), mining is an employment for economic growth in a certain country, it increase also the revenue for
the miners as well as for the government fund, it is a source of livelihood for the people around a certain area, the social
development for the community and other stakeholders and in the larger community. She also mentioned that it could
also transform into other uses, used for natural resources, can alter and for enhancement for the area, it is also for the
rehabilitation to bring back healthy condition of the soil after they used it. The people around the community need also
to plant more trees for renewable resources and for the carbon dioxide. So, at the end of every mining, there will be the
possibility of gaining more nutrients from the soil. There are a lot of advantages of mining that could give to the lives of
every person. It is a little bit unfamiliar to those people who are new about this matter. But it helps a lot to the economic
growth of the Philippines as to the other stakeholders all over the country. It is indeed a stepping stone to faster
earnings. It is a development for the community certainly the rapid out-growth of resources. She also discussed about
the negativity of mining such as it decreases the natural resource that is supplied by nature, if it is irresponsible and have
mismanagement in mining, there is also a possibility of pollution in land, air, and water. It is bound in the Republic Act
(RA) 7942 law or the Philippine Mining act that speaks about the environmental act in land, air, and water if a single
person is irresponsible and not maintaining the growth of natural resources. Mining is definitely having a lot of
disadvantages that could trigger the crisis that is very rampant in the country. Just like every time there is landslides and
floods that softens the soil in the mountainous part.  The miners themselves need to take risks so that they could raise
their own families and help them out to survive. Just like if there is an earthquake, the lives of the miners will be in
danger because there is the possibility that the place will be destroyed and broken down that could lead to death. It is a
matter of taking risks and a matter of choice for them because in some areas it is the easiest way to uplift their own lives
as well as for their family.  According to a research of rappler.com, representatives from the mining sector expressed
their reservations about the plan to declare eight provinces as mining-free zones during a Senate hearing. These areas
are: Cagayan de Oro City, Catanduanes, Nueva Vizcaya, Eastern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Biliran, Davao City, and Second
District of Sorsogon. Chamber of mines of the Philippines vice president for policy Ronald Recidoro said that banning
mining from those areas will “set a bad precedent” for the Philippine government and also added that mineral resources
are limited, finite and do not occur everywhere. They are concentrated in only a few blessed provinces. This deprives the
national government of the chance to develop a national industrialization plan. Around 65% of the Philippines cannot be
mined under current laws and executive orders despite the vast potential of the country as a source of minerals.
Meanwhile, mining is destructive to the environment but Representative Carlos Padilla of the lone district of Nueva
Vizcaya is prioritizing the agriculture over the mining.

There are various advantages and disadvantages of mining in the Philippines that has different functions and
uses which can profit the community in the society. In conclusion, mining should be stopped so that the destruction of
the environment will be minimized and the lives of the next generation will be saved, more enjoyable and preserved.