Abstract

This paper talks about one of the most controversial environmental issues that Philippines is
facing. The dilemma of allowing mining in our country or banning it. The significance of mining
to our life, to the economy of our country, to our environment, and its effects to the people, the
country, and the nature. The legalities concerning mining, and suggestions about the
implementation of mining in the Philippines.
Introduction

Philippines is an archipelago located at the southeast asia composed of 7, 7107 islands and islets.
This country is known for its vast and rich natural resources like water, land, people, and also
minerals. Philippines is truly a place favored by nature’s riches.

It is endowed with rich mineral deposits. In fact, according to the Mines and Geosciences
Beaureu, Philippines is the fifth most mineral-rich country in the world for gold, nickel, copper,
and chromite. It has the largest copper and gold deposit in the world. As of 2012, it has 840
billion dollars’ worth of untapped mineral wealth.

Mining is the process of extracting valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth
like gemstones, metals, coal, oil, limestone, chalk, dimension stone, rock salt, potash, gravel, and
clay.

According to American geo sciences, there are four types of mining. Underground mining are
often used for deeper deposits and is expensive, Surface mining, are typically used for shallower
and less valuable deposits. Placer mining, which is used to sift out valuable metals from
sediments in river channels, beach sands, or other environments. In-situ mining is primarily
used in mining uranium, involves dissolving the mineral resource in place then processing it at
the surface without moving rock from ground.

Purpose of Mining

Through mining, these materials and resources that cannot be supplied through agricultural
means can be obtained. The materials obtained are then used to create products that we use in our
daily lives like silver and gold for jewelries, gravel for construction of our houses and buildings,
coal and oil to make the engines run and produce electricity on powerplants, and to cook.

Mining industry in the Philippines

About 30 million hectares of land areas in the Philippines is deemed as possible areas for
metallic minerals. About nine million hectares of land areas is identified as having high mineral
potential. The Philippines have approximately 21. 5 billion metric tons of metal deposits and 19.
3 non-metallic deposits as of 2012. (Quintans, 2017)
Mining has been in the Philippines ever since the precolonial period. Locals mine golds to be
sold through a barter system at neighboring countries like China, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, and
Vietnam. As of 2017, there are 50 operating mines in the Philippines. There were 236, 000
workers in the mining industry during 2016. It has 0.6 percent contribution to the GDP of the
country during 2016. The mined materials contributed to 4 percent of total exports and 0.3
percent to non-metallic products.

Effects and Impact of mining

Qoura.com provided benefits of mining. Mining Industry provides revenue for the government
and provides well-paying jobs to people of the community with recreational centers, educational
plans, and university programs as one of their employees’ benefits. It also provides us with
resources like germanium for our phone, copper for the wires, and etc. However, they also
warned about the harmful effects of Mining. First, Surface mining requires that an area is
cleared, along with construction of roads leading to deforestation and habitat fragmentation. The
noise contributes to noise pollution and the dusts produced at mining areas contributes to air
pollution. These dusts coat the leaves of the plants thus preventing exchange of air. The plants
will be suffocated and will eventually die. Humans who inhale these dusts may worsen their
preexisting health condition. Radioactive chemicals can cause cancer. Other toxic waste
products can cause serious water and soil damage. The land will not be able to be productive as
before. Families of farmers and fishermen suffer the animal specie as well living there.
Furthermore, Miners’ life and health is in danger. They may be trapped if a tunnel collapse.

Legalities concerning mining in the Philippines

The Republic Act No. 7942: Republic Mining of 1995 and DENR Administrative order No.
2010-21 (Mining Act IRR) allows for foreign ownership of mining assets and exploration
permits. The Supreme court upheld the constitutionality of the foreign investors’ participation in
mining activities in the year 2004 while protecting the rights of indigenous people to their
ancestral lands. It also states that mining companies must secure a permit first from the
government after complying requirements to make sure that their company takes precautions and
clean the mess before, during, and after the mining. The company must consider the carrying
capacity of the human environments
Conclusion

Overall, the mining industry in the Philippines has a huge potential. This potential shall not be
deemed wasted for it will help the economy of our country. The prosperity of the country is the
joy of every Filipino people. It may become a hope especially for the poor, the unemployed, and
the minorities whose life needs to be alleviated. The earnings from the industry is of a great help
to our government fund which in turn will be utilized for long-term projects that would benefit
the people, assuming that the funds are not corrupted and are used for the people’s welfare.

However, caution shall be implemented because the costs and the damages might outweigh the
benefits of mining industry. Benefits of mining industry shall be received without jeopardizing
the welfare of the people, and the environment because in the end, the humanity will suffer.

Illegal mining shall be monitored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at a
great extent and ensure that those who dare to exploit the natural resources and harm the people
and the environment for their benefit be punished and may never operate again.
References

www. Manilatimes.net

https://gettingdealthrough.com

https://www.dlsu.edu.ph

www. mgb.gov.ph

www. americangeosciences.org

https://en.www. Wikipedia.org

https://www. qoura.com