ALCOBA, Louise Nicole R.

2012-29566
Communication III

INFORMATIVE SPEECH PLAN

Title: Gold inside the Fortress of Nature: Status of Mining at Lobo, Batangas
Specific Speech Purpose: To inform my Communications III classmates about the current status
of mining as well as its effects on the municipality and the people of Lobo, Batangas.
Statement: Mining is almost underway Lobo, Batangas and it poses several effects on the
municipality and its people.

INTRODUCTION

I. Attention Step: When you receive a gift beautifully wrapped, with elaborate ribbons and
designs, it will surely catch your attention. But wouldn’t you want to know more about
what’s inside of it? Thinking of how intricate the outside is, there could be something more
inside.
II. Clarification Step: The outer beauty of the gift may be likened to the appearance of a place, a
wonderful place which has more promising wonders when delved into. One place I know of is
the simple municipality of Lobo, Batangas. It is almost a fortress of nature. But, beyond that,
it has deposits of gold and some other mines that are considered treasures. Today, we are
going to know more about these treasures, the process of their acquisition and the place from
which they are being acquired. Let me share some information regarding the “Status of
Mining at Lobo, Batangas”.

BODY
I. Mining, which is the business of digging mines (gold, minerals, etc), require certain
permits and undergo several processes.
a. Mindoro Resources Limited Gold Philippines (MRL Gold) has been granted by
the national gov’t two Minerals Production Sharing Agreements (MPSAs)-
allowing them to explore the site for possible mines; Red Mountain Mining won
local support for Batangas and now continues its consultation with the next tiers
of government, including the Batangas provincial council, while the central
government is processing the final technical review and mine permitting prior to
final approval.
b. So far, MRL Gold has explored 29,000 hectares of land encompassing several
villages of Lobo, Batangas. The company has already drilled 173 holes for the
exploration, each approximately one kilometer deep, in barangays Pulang Lupa
and Kay Tanda to check for gold deposits.
 Simply they are still at the initial step, which is exploration. And, they are halfway
the acquisition of permits for the complete business.

II. Lobo, Batangas, the site of mining, is a heritage of nature.

a. The municipality is a home to almost 37,000 people, mostly fishermen, farmers
and resort personnel.
b. The agricultural lands of Lobo are filled with tamarind and atis tree plantations
and a few rice fields.
c. The municipality is known for its white sand beaches which serve as tourist spots
and its waters cover the “Center of the Center of Marine Shore fish Biodiversity”,
containing 76% of the coral species that the world has.

III. Effects of mining

a. Immediate effects of mining include the addition of jobs available in the
municipality since the proposed 5 year contract of mining will likely hire residents as
miners. In line with that, the local government is to receive higher income for the said
business.
However, mining has also negative immediate effects such as the distortion of the
surrounding topography, the green and luscious mountains of Lobo.
b. Additionally, am article reveals that the 1 km deep holes are found to have “fool’s
gold” which contains certain chemicals which when leached out and down the water may
contaminate them. This then stems into the long-term effects of mining. Contamination of
water and its increased acidity will not only affect the people but also their crops such as
the atis and tamarind, including few rice fields. And, the diverse marine species found in
the near waters, which include almost all the existing coral species will be affected
resulting to the death of corals and the other marine organisms (fishes and etc). Since
these are the main sources of income of the people of Lobo, it is most likely that their
livelihood and local economy will die down in the future as well.
IV. People’s Stand
These effects have divided the people of Lobo and others who are concerned with
such issue: pro and against.
a. Pro-mining people say that we have the potential to develop world-class mines
with the fact that the Philippines is the 5th most mineralized country in the world
2nd largest deposit of gold. This further bringing more income not only to the
locality but also to the national government.
b. The group who is against mining in Lobo are already doing steps in order to hold
and completely stop the companies from perpetuating their locality. The locals
and even the church had dialogues with the departments which are to release the
permits needed by the companies. Strikes and rallies were conducted as well.
 Additionally these people have concrete explanations on why they oppose mining
at Lobo. Mining threatens food security. Biodiversity will be damaged and this is
irreversible. Mining threatens health. There were documented cases where
children and adults have suffered due to the mine sites. No mining site in the
Philippines have been developed after the business, they all have been damaged.

CONCLUSION
Summary Step: Mining companies have gone its way to discover more the beauty of Lobo,
Batangas, in the form of its gold deposits. These companies are halfway the beginning of the
process of mining. However, this poses several effects on the municipality, most of it being
negative. Being knowledgeable of all of these facts, I do hope that you have become aware of the
current status of this beautiful fortress and may you have a better standpoint in the future talks
about this issue. “The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness
into our awareness” – Lao Tzu
Sources: Center for Environmental Concerns Philippines (http://www.cecphils.org/node/43)
Google images
The Philippine Pride (http://www.thephilippinepride.com/australian-mining-firm-
ready-to-dig-for-high-grade-gold-in-batangas/)
Visual Aids: Powerpoint Presentation
Time: 6-8 mins.