May 4, 2010

 

Mr. Loreto B. Alburo, CESO IV

Regional Director

Mines and Geosciences Bureau, DENR

Greenplains Subdivision, Banilad

Mandaue City, Cebu

Fax: 346-9176 email: mgb7cebu@yahoo.com

 

 

 

SUBJECT:  OBJECTION TO APPLICATION OF KOLINSKI MINING  CORPORATION EXPLORATION OF SIATON AND ZAMBOANGUITA

 

Dear Mr. Alburo:

 

We are opposing the  the  mining exploration applied for by Kolinski Mining Corporation.  We  as direct stakeholders of the areas are writing our appeal for protection and to voice out our concern for the DENR to support small farms in Siaton and Zamboanguita  as this will help our farming communities to be economically viable, create carbon-absorbing greenbelts, and can mean less energy used, less pollution to bring food to our table. Moreover, Siaton is classified as fishing , rice farming, and tourism zones and provide jobs, food, ecological services, recreation and tourism opportunities that play critical roles not only in our municipality’s economy, but benefits our  country`s  comprehensive policy on environmental protection where all local governments are obliged in all measures to consistently apply RA 8550- where we are mandated to safeguard the health of the marine environment, and  prevent, reduce, and control of its pollution and degradation.  Siaton has currently four Marine Protected Areas and shall continue to establish more as our coasts are lined with coral reefs that make these ideal for conservation that will sustain life. 

 

 Our group is actively conserving  such coastal resources, and these efforts are privately funded, where scientific proof of our success is attached. The area we protect is surveyed yearly by Silliman Uniiversity-Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management (Directory of Marine Reserves in the Visayas, p. 119, No. 26, Antulang Marine Reserve). Likewise, proof of how magnetite or gold mining  in Cagayan has increased the area´s vulnerability to floods as magnetite holds the sand together, and mercury that is used for mining gold will permanently damage not only the groundwater  where we get drinking water from, and the soil where our farmers grow basic crops. The absence of magnetite in the sand can deplete the coastal and near-shore areas as now being experienced in La Union. Of course there is a lot of money to be had from this business deal, but please think of the majority who will eventually be crippled if you choose to waive DENR’s responsibility. We believe magnetite and gold mining is harmful and not sustainable.

 

Though Pres. Arroyo  “harmonized”  conflicting laws that contradict the Mining Act in 2004, we still have to follow international laws that protect our coasts from further degradation by industrial and commercial activities, be that onshore or offshore, that affect habitat loss, rising sea levels, or ocean acidification that lead to climate change.  The value of our marine resources is not a trade-off between the economy and the environment, and we need to ensure accountability for all of our actions affecting our fishery, ocean, coasts, and other marine resources.  Our basic municipal resources therefore require protection as we have a stewardship responsibility  from every government sector  who is tasked to monitor abuses and pollution for the benefit of this and future generations.

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources  carries the Filipino people’s mandate to review existing environmental policies to ensure integration and collaboration across jurisdictional lines in meeting the objectives of our regional governance structures, and national and international policies for our oceans and coasts that we can employ an integrated and comprehensive ecosystem-based approach that addresses conservation and sustainable use of our country`s very precious coral reefs. For such reasons, we strongly object to all mining explorations in our municipality  as it endangers directly our reefs and poisons the fish  that sustain the majority of our community members´  daily food consumption.

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

DIVE HUB

 

 Gena R. Dayon

 

 

Martin R. Jordan

 

 

Arnold Alapap

 

 

Marites J. Zapanta

 

 

Junilyn G. Macabunlog

 

 

 

Enc:  SUAKCREM Technical Survey of Dive Hub MPA

         

 

Cc:   Barangay Captain R. Bondocan,  Siit, Siaton

        Mayor Arbolado, Mun. of Siaton