The Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC) has urged the national government to designate Marinduque as a mining-free zone and remove it from the priority mining areas in the MIMAROPA region.
Opposing the proposal to allocate 1,343.74 hectares in Mogpog, Marinduque, as a Mineral Reserve Area, MACEC strongly objects to any future mining activities in Mogpog and other towns.
In a report by BusinessMirror, the group calls for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to spearhead the rehabilitation of affected communities.
MACEC Executive Secretary Elizabeth Manggol underlined the enduring impacts of the Maguila-guila Siltation Dam disaster caused by Marcopper, which resulted in floods, loss of property, livelihoods, and tragic loss of lives.
MACEC stressed the irreversible damage from previous mining activities, citing the compromised carrying capacity of Marinduque due to past mining endeavors.
They referred to local and regional resolutions, including the Mimaropa Regional Development Council’s endorsement, supporting the province’s designation as a mining-free zone.
Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator of Alyansa Tigil Mina, stressed the residents’ longstanding plea to the national government and DENR, urging them to heed the community’s appeals considering the severe impact of mining on the province.
