MINING ISSUES. A mine site on Homonhon Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, in this Oct. 25, 2023 photo. An inter-agency task force has been formed to address the concerns of communities affected by mining operations on the island which is part of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau said on Thursday (June 20, 2024). (Photo courtesy of Save Homonhon Movement)
TACLOBAN CITY – An inter-agency task force has been formed to address the concerns of communities affected by mining operations in Homonhon Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said on Thursday.
MGB-Eastern Visayas Regional Director Glenn Marcelo Noble said the body is chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio with Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone and Guiuan town Mayor Annaliza Kwan as co-chairpersons.
Members are officials from MGB, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army, local water utilities, the Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative, mining firm representatives, and local officials of eight villages on Homhonhon Island.
The task force will have its second meeting in Guiuan town next week to discuss updates on efforts to address three main issues raised by residents of the island.
These issues are water supply, electricity, and dust pollution caused by mining activities.
“Mining has been on Homonhon Island for decades, but it was only recently that large companies came in. They are committed to carrying out corporate social responsibility activities to improve the living conditions of residents on the island,” Noble said.
There is also no electricity on the entire island, which has 4,000 residents. They only rely on a generator, which only works from 4 p.m. to midnight, according to Noble.
Residents depend on deep wells and communal water systems for their potable water.
The official said their agency is also regularly monitoring the compliance of mining firms with environmental laws.
Four mining companies are operating on the island -- Emir Mineral Resources Corp., Chromite King Inc., Nickelace Inc., and Mt. Sinai Mining Exploration and Development Corp.
Nickel and chromite are abundant in Homonhon, where Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew first set foot on Philippine soil 500 years ago.
In 2023, some 8.22 million metric tons (MT) of nickel ore were shipped to China, while 25,900 MT of chromite concentrate were transported to China. (With reports from Florence R. Dableo & Allysa Grace L. Diaz, OJTs/PNA)
