A POSITION PAPER ON MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES

kylagidaya

3 years ago

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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 stop so that the
destruction of the environment will be minimize and the lives of the next generation will be save, more
enjoyable and preserve.

Reference:

Ranada, P. (2015). Mining sector opposes 8 ‘mining-free’ zones. Retrieved from www.rappler.com