HOMONHON ISLAND                                              A FIELD APPRAISAL

 

           Homonhon Island is part of the Municipality of Guiuan, Province of Eastern Samar, located at the southeastern part Guiuan mainland and is exposed to the Pacific Ocean. It has a total land area of more or less Seven Thousand Four Hundred Square Hectares (7,400 sq.has.) and composed of Eight (8) Barangays with an average population of 7.000 people. It cradles a vast and rich aqua-marine, coastal and upland resources and it has a great potential for agricultural and eco and historical tourism development. Basically, it is a fishing and farming community.

 

          A massive deterioration of the Island’s environment and resources due to mining ghastly alarmed concerned residents. Once before, Homonhon Island boasts a thick and lush forest, abundant water supply the whole year round, rich in wildlife of various species, plentiful aqua marine products along its reefs and shallow seas, and match with the caring, hospitable, in pleasant bonding and peace-loving members of the community. But after series of mineral explorations, many things have changed and unluckily, it was never for the betterment of the people at stake nor for the future. A fire razed thousands of hectares of the Island’s lush forest covers followed by mineral extraction from small scale to large scale. To date, aside from those which have already established their claims, applicants for small scale mining paraded to get their slice of pie in Homonhon and eventually overturn the remaining forest covers, the farms and farmlands and watersheds into hollow graves. The prospects of a good and civil future is threatened as exhaustion or annihilation of resources that are essential to life takes its toll.

 

          Mining operations in the Island resulted in heavy siltation on creeks and waterways, drying out and possible contamination of water supply; the corrals and reefs and sea beds  causing the nearby seas to blur and there,  wiping out stable marine lives and driving out fishes to far oceans, hence depleting the income of fisher folks. The denudation of the mountains causes soil erosion and imminent landslides and its outright exposure of the soil to sunlight triggers extensive heat that may somehow contribute to the worsening state of global warming, the displacement and extinction of birds and other wild life that once hover and dwelt in the Island which presence had contributed a great deal for its sound and balanced eco-system. It also resulted in the division among residents, and conflict within the families and friends. It is also figured out as an avenue for corruption.

 

          Alarmed by the drastic move of these mining firms/entities, pro-mining residents, some high profile local officials propelling for an abrupt mineral extraction in the Island, concerned residents with the support of the church, some LGU members and other alliances spearheaded by Homohon Environment Rescuers Organization – HERO, are taking all the necessary steps  and available means to stop and permanently close the Island from mining through passing several petitions, other valid and legal means such as seeking support and promotion of agriculture and aquaculture, reforestation, eco and historical tourism and official declaration from National Historical Commission making Homonhon Island as one of the most important landmark on Philippine history.

 

 

AREA PROFILE

 

          Located at the southeastern part mainland of Guiuan, Homonhon Island is well known among nearby places for its big and violent waves and a very strong sea current being exposed directly to the Pacific Ocean. It is exceptionally blessed with the abundance of natural resources, beautiful sceneries, white beaches, rare and first class timber woods such as the Magkono tree which is named ‘steel tree’ due to its extraordinary hardness etc,. But the event that occurred in this Island is one worthy enough to defend, protect and preserve the Island for this is a heritage that touches every Filipinos’ lives because, according to history books, Philippine and World, and corroborated by the passages of the elders of the place, though theirs did not care for dates, Ferdinand Magellan and his crew did first landed in Homonhon Island on March 16, 1521 that leads to the discovery of the Philippine Islands. Then and there they replenish their supply of water and food and made appropriate ceremonies they were obliged to do as Christians. Hence, Homonhon Island was the first and foremost place that got to embrace the atmosphere and touch of Christianity. It serves as a room for the birth of a new country, “the Philippine Islands” then gives us a national identity. “We are Filipinos”, and  it all begun in Homonhon Island, and it is mining that might stamp out our rich and famous historical heritage.

 

          In gist, Homonhon Island’s historical importance is priceless and as history echoes, we can say that Homonhon Island is FAMOUS, “ Famous but forgotten by either local or national blindness.

 

          For these, WE, HOMONHONANONS, hereby solicits and pray for all possible support and assistance from all Filipinos especially our Church leaders and concerned government agencies to (1) help us make a call to all concerned government agencies to bequeath Homonhon a mining-free Island, because, mining in the Island never addresses to the development of the place and its people but it poses dangers and threats and violates the rights and interests of its people for their manner and means of subsistence and existence; instead, give assistance for its agricultural development and make the Island as the agricultural basin in the region and promote eco and historical tourism; (2) help us in pursuing our national government and the National Historical Commission to create a Bill officially recognizing Homonhon Island as one of the most important landmark on Philippine History for it was where Ferdinand Magellan and his crew did first landed on March 16,1521 that leads to the discovery of the Philippines and give birth to Christianity over the land. Then and there, everyone, most especially the national government would be obliged to care, preserve and protect the Island’s natural beauty and resources and directly be involved in the management, maintenance, preservation of its environment for Christianity, history and future’s sake.

 

 

                

                                                     By:

                         

                                                              VILLARDO C. ABUEME

                                                                        President

                                           Homonhon Environment Rescuers Organization

                                                 Homonhon, Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar