Mining: A Boon or A Burden

According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the Philippines is the fifth most mineral-rich
country in the world for nickel, gold, copper, and chromite and estimated to have $840 billion worth of
untapped mineral wealth as of 2012. But will it be safe for the people in the area affected if mining
corporations start to operate and dig for mineral resources?

Mining as what the wikipedia says is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials
from the earth, usually from an orebody, lode, vein, seam, reef or placer deposit. These deposits form a
mineralized package that is of economic interest to the miner. Mining corporation could generate
millions and billions of income out of mining.As a benefaction for what they have generated, mining
helps the country in many aspects. These includes, supply of raw materials for construction of buildings,
roads and other infrastructures that are needed here and abroad for maintaining and upgrading living
standards. Also, a part of income generated from mining also helps the country financially in building
public facilities in order to help the people of the nation in attaining their basic needs. Furthermore,
mining also contributes in job creation that will also be helpful in reducing the unemployment rate
problem of the Philippines. According to statistics, the industry accounts for about .6% of total
employment which relieved the country somehow. Mining has become one of the great sources of the
country's revenue which leaves a big impact to the latter. But, will these money could somehow pay for
what has been sacrificed just for them to earn a living or should we call it to help the people primarily?

On the other hand, Mining also poses a threat to nature which is one of the problems facing the country
today. Recently, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lifts quarry ban in non-
residential areas in the country following the landslide incident in Naga, Cebu on September 20 that
caused a total of 72 identified death and 11 missing persons. The search and rescue operation finds it
hard to retrieve the bodies due to the massive erosion of land. Furthermore, mine tailings or what they
call the remnants of materials left behind after the desired mineral is extracted, are often piled on-site
and left behind when the mine is abandoned.According to Rich Reid of National Geographic, these
tailings are often toxic, and when rain runs off the piles, it leaches out harmful toxics like lead, mercury,
arsenic and carries them to tge wetland, threatening wildlife and exposing humans to indirect and direct
danger. these threats are some of the great manifestations of how mining is causing many lives to break
down in an instant. Also, The Philippine Mining Act of 1995 was hailed to boost the country’s economic
growth and to bring rural progress and development especially in communities hosting large scale
mining corporations. But according to the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, "more than economic growth, the
Mining Act paved way for the massive plunder and destruction of natural resources, displacement of
communities, and violations of the collective rights of indigenous peoples over our ancestral domains
and natural resources as experienced by the Igorot communities in the Cordillera from decades of large-
scale mining operations".

Eliminating Mining corporation to operate in the Philippines is not the proper indemnification to solve
the problem our country is facing. Considering the safety of other people before saving yourself the
selfless way to help the country. Mining could continue its operation for its significance but we should
always put in mind that we can't compromise life over money. According to Cree Indian Proverb " When
the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realized
that one cannot eat money." Money can be retrieved but not for lives.