Senator Loren Legarda voiced her opposition to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s (MGB-6) initiative to designate parts of Patnongon, San Remigio, Valderrama, and Sibalom in Antique as mineral reservations, emphasizing the need to protect the province’s environment and heritage.
Philippine News Agency reported that Legarda expressed grave concerns about the environmental, cultural, and economic consequences of mining, warning that it could threaten the province’s heritage and sustainable industries.
The senator cited risks such as soil erosion and landslides linked to over-quarrying, which would likely worsen with further mining development. These threats, she emphasized, could lead to deforestation, soil degradation, and heightened vulnerability to environmental disasters.
Antique is home to the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park and the Sibalom Natural Park, both critical protected areas under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018.
She said mining operations pose significant risks to local communities, jeopardizing sustainable livelihoods, disrupting ecosystems, and undermining the rich cultural heritage carefully maintained by Antiqueños.
Instead of mining, Legarda called for investments in green technology, sustainable agriculture, and community-based eco-tourism, emphasizing that these sectors offer long-term benefits without harming the environment.
Share your voice: should the focus be on sustainability instead of mining? Engage in discussions at AngMinero.
