Yadnijo M.

Tubog BS- Geology

Responsible Mining

Mining! When you hear this word, what would be the first thing that sinks in your mind?

Some people think that mining is an inadequate way that only destroys our environment.
Mining has been ought to be a major threat to the environments due to its after effects. Adversely
mining affects the environment by inducing the loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and
contamination of surface water. This may also trigger the formation of sinkholes, and the leakage
of chemicals from mining sites that can also have bad effects on the health of the population
living at/or around the mining sites.

But one thing people didn’t know is that, mining is the number one source of everything
we have right now.

As an advocate of Responsible Mining, I say making mining better for our environment,
our communities, and for our country. Mining is not only just for the benefits of the mining
industries. But also for our own needs, not just today but also for the years to come. As we pay
more attention in our surroundings, we can say that this are all the help of all mining
corporation.

You may wonder how mining can be beneficial in our life. How it helps our daily
commodities. This is where the importance of mining takes place.

For about 8 billion people living in our world today, in either to survive we need water,
food, and shelter. Could modern civilization survive without mining?. Well you see, no iron ore,
limestone, and rock crush mining there would be no source of steel, cement, and concrete that
can be use in building houses. But not only that, there would be no supermarkets, hospital, or
cities. For infrastructures, there would be no road, bridges, harbor and airports. For
transportations, there would be no cars, trucks, motorcycle, ships, or planes. Without
infrastructure and transportation, there would be no local businesses or global trade.

Without steel and concrete, it can greatly affect our source of water and electricity.
Because without it we can’t build dams that produce hydroelectric power for electricity, water
treatment plants nor water wells. Without agriculture equipments that are made by steel, there
would be no crops. No feeds for animals, no food for us humans. With just these examples it
shows that our basic commodities of water, shelter, and food are provided through the help of
mining.

In our country, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declares that environment must be the top
priority. During his third State of the Nation Address, he said that, “Nature endowed us with this
wealth to be tapped for the benefit of all generations. My policy in the utilization of these
resources is non-negotiable: the protection of the environment must be top priority”. TVI
Resource Development Philippines, Inc. in Zamboanga, Mindanao and Rio Tuba Nickel Mining
Corporation in the town of Bataraza, Palawan has fulfilled their purpose.

These two mining companies had follow and observe the principles of responsible mining
through the years. They have been fully conscious of our societal, and environmental impacts.
By taking measures in giving back to the environment in restoring the ecosystem. By
rehabilitating, reforest, setting up pollution control, solid waste management, watershed
management, and siltation control, these can protect the environment and enhance their
programs.

I am seizing in the right advocacy, which is mining has to be done responsibly. And you
should too. This is for the community, the economy, the environment, the country, and for every
human being. Mining can be done in a way that provides benefits to all in over time. As we care
for the future of our environment we must promote on how mining can be done responsibly.
Mining industries must bring back nature and sustainability in the area that are being mined. By
obeying the law it can be done.