Davao Oriental is a beautiful province. It is home to the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mindanao, the Mt. Hamiguitain Range Wildlife Sanctuary (MHRWS). Its beautiful seascape, including the Pujada, Mayo, and Balete Bay, have also been declared as Most Beautiful Bays in the World (MBBW). In these rich natural frontiers are the unique flora and fauna – most of which are still waiting to be discovered.
However, this natural wonder is consistently being threatened by mining activities. In 2021, the Philippine government approved a Banaybanay Nickel Laterite Mining Project to cover 6,363.3368 hectares of land, spanning Barangays Puntalinao, Causwagan, Pintatagan, Maputi, Panikian, and Mahayag in the Municipality of Banaybanay.
The controversial discoloration of the Mapagba River (banner photo) and nearby river tributaries recently raised concerns among local communities. On January 14, 2022, the said incident occurred after a 12-hour sustained rainfall, giving us a hint of the environmentally-damaging activities upstream. The same phenomenon was documented in an adjacent Barangay Causwagan in December 2020.
Mine tailings pose risk to the livelihood of thousands of people downstream who heavily rely on fishing, rice farming, and tourism. Also, it poses direct threats to the biodiversity in Banaybanay waters, such as the critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).
Moreover, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology – Department of Science and Technology (PHILVOLCS-DOST), including the Department of Geophysics in Kyoto University and Department of Geography in Hiroshima University, confirmed that Davao Oriental sits on a 320-km stretch fault line, commonly known as the Surigao-Mati FL. Continued mining will aggravate the threats brought by the fault line.
House Bill 1124 (later substituted by House Bill 6563), otherwise known as the “Davao Oriental Mining-Free Zone Act,” has already been approved by the 18th Congress in June 2021, pending approval by the Senate. This Act encapsulates the “policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” Now is the right time to enact this legislation to prevent any more destruction caused by mining.
We call on the power of the people to help us deter the destruction brought about by mining. Please help us SAVE DAVAO ORIENTAL FROM MINING by signing this online petition for the CANCELLATION OF THE BANAYBANAY NICKEL LATERITE MINING PROJECT.
