© 2009 Sibuyan Island Sentinels League for Environment Inc. (Sibuyan ISLE) . Courtesy
of Dipl.-Ing. Stephan Perschke
One of the most advanced villages of San Fernando. A small-scale nickel mining operation
has been granted by the PMRB to an individual identified as one of the members of
the board of trustees of Filipinas Top Rock Mines and Realty Development, Inc. (FTRMRDI,
famously known as Top Rock), an alleged clone of San Roque Metals, Inc. operating
in Tubay, Agusan del Norte, because of the appearance of former Caloocan lawmaker
Egay Erice. Applicants for small scale mining include members of the board of Top
Rock, and for exploration and mineral productions sharing agreement (MPSA) include
Pelican Resources of Australia through Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corporation
(SNPDC) owned by the Cabarrus Group. This is where the late councilor Armin Marin
was murdered during a protest against Top Rock, SNPDC, Pelican Resources and its
off-take agreement with BHP Billiton, and the approval of then DENR Sec. Angelo Reyes
of a special cutting permit for 69,709 trees. Mining applications of SNPDC and Top
Rock were recommended by the former Brgy. Capt. Ludilyn Montojo and majority of the
council before her term ended, despite the opposition of the villagers during three
consultations held.
A far-flung coastal village in San Fernando considered as one of the poorest. A small-scale
iron mining operation by JKL Brothers Mineral Ore Quarrying Enterprises (JKL Brothers)
owned by Mr. Herodion Molo, backed by Ore Asia Mining Development Corp. (OAMDC),
owned by a certain Mr. Danny Ong, has been permitted by the provincial government
of Romblon. In the advent of its operation, coral reefs were destroyed during the
unloading of heavy equipment to be used in the operation. It has been documented
even in television that the operation is in circumvention with the Small Scale Mining
Act of 1991 prohibiting the use of heavy equipment. The Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) and Romblon’s Provincial Mining Regulatory Board have
been knowledgeable of the aforesaid fact that led to the halt order of Gov. Natalio
Beltran III recently. The mining site is on a hill just above the elementary school,
village hall and reacreation center, and chapel, not counting the houses adjacent
to it. Fronting the mining hill directly is the seacoast just twenty meters away,
hence, during rainy days, it turns brown because of siltation. Another struggle occurs:
rehabilitation.
The largest village and the rice granary of San Fernando. The advocacy against mining
started here when the majority of the council questioned the validity of a resolution
that was not consulted to them, signed by former Brgy. Capt. Wenne Romano. The provincial
government granted Pelican Resources and SNPDC two small-scale mining permits (SSMP)
through its member companies All-acacia Resources and Sun-Pacific Resources. It could
be concluded that the SSMPs were just used for exploration purposes because there
was no actual production of nickel ores. In a forum, it was admitted by SNPDC’s geologist
that the company is not really for small scale operation but for a large scale one.
It is feared that the water and irrigation systems will be affected because the mining
areas are adjacent to Cantingas River and other tributaries. Their permits expired
in May 2008, however, they are applying for another two years.
In their agreement with BHP Billiton, they have two years to get an MPSA or else
the agreement shall be nullified.
Small-scale open-pit iron ore mining using heavy equipment: a clear violation of Small Scale Mining Act. (PIPLINKS)
Sibuyanons bring Hon. Armin Rios-Marin to his final resting place. (Sibuyan ISLE)
The September 2, 2006 with 8,000 people attending. (Sibuyan ISLE)