June 20, 2009
THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN MEMBERS
MUNICIPALITY OF GUIUAN
Guiuan, Eastern Samar
Thru: Mr. Rectito Melquiadez
Sangguinang Bayan Secretary
Municipality of Guiuan
Attention: Hon. Gorgonio Cabacaba
Sangguniang Bayan Member
Chairman – Committee on Environmental Protection
The Honorable Sangguniang Bayan Members of Guiuan,
Greetings!
This is in connection with the abrupt passage and endorsement of related documents relative to opening, re-opening and towards continuous mining operations in Homonhon Island. We understand that you are fully aware of the situation in Homonhon Island. But, please be reminded that:
Sec. 2.c, Sec. 26 and 27 of the Local Government Code of 1991 must be complied with prior to any approval of projects or programs that could have adverse effect to the environment and to its people such like on mining.
As to our knowledge, there haven’t been any ‘public consultation’ that had taken place prior to any mining related issues specifically in Brgys. Casuguran and Cagusu-an, where, as the phrase ‘public consultation’ connotes, it should be openly done in public places and open to the public.
LGUs are representatives of their constituents but they don’t constitute the decision of the general public so that on matters where public interests are at stake, decisions must be drawn out with the consent of the people affected.
On our viewpoint, as permanent residents of the Island, Homonhon is environmentally critical area for mining operations specially in medium and large scale basis so that prior to any passage, endorsement or approval for any mining firm to operate in Homonhon including Manicani Island, an Environmental Impact Statement from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), along with the ecological profile of the area, shall be presented and discussed to the affected communities as provided for in PD No. 1586.
in Sec. 19 of RA 7942 otherwise known as “The Mining Act of 1995” states that among the areas closed to mining are (1) ‘historical sites’, where we believe that we all see and incorporate in us the essence of the Magellen’s Landing Event, and (2) ‘waterways’ where we consider those as the bloodlines of life in the Island.
The valuation of the resources that shall be depleted or exhausted due to mining operations must be accounted for. How much revenue shall our government earn during the lifetime of the mine and how much loss shall it bear to the affected communities? For drinking water alone, if a person consumes one liter a day, at an estimated 7,000 population in Homonhon Island, that could be 7,000 liters consumption a day. If we valuate that to Two Pesos per liter, that would equal to P14,000.00/day. For one month, it would be P420,000.00 and for one year, its roughly P5,040,000.00 and that’s for drinking water alone at a price of P2.00/lt. Multiply the amount to the life of the mine plus another 10 years beyond when mine rehabilitation is taking place if it will indeed be rehabilitated, how much that would be and compare it to the taxes shall our government receive and the benefit the affected community that may enjoy. What about its other domestic uses, cooking, bathing, washing clothes, etc…..? How about farms and other livelihood of the island folks that shall be affected and disturbed by the said mining activity, we should valuate them to see the difference.
We understand that it’s within our knowledge that there’s a standing Provincial Ordinance passed and approved by of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Eastern Samar imposing Moratorium on Medium and Large Scale Mining within the whole Province, hence, any endorsement or approval of mining within of this kind shall be contrary to said Ordinance.
Railroading for mining in Homonhon Island without the benefit of due process could only cause chaos and disagreement among its people and other responsible persons or groups. Before, potable water was free everywhere, now, its being bought and its costly, shall we too desire that in due time, also the air that we breath shall be purchased and be available in the market for the people to continue living?
With these, we the concerned groups urged the Local Government Units of the Municipality of Guiuan and the Province of Eastern Samar and all other government agencies concerned including the Barangay Governments of the Eight (8) Barangays in Homonhon Island, to treat any mining project proposal within the bounds of Homonhon with much caution and prudence and defer any passage of resolutions or endorsements until after its people are fully afforded with information about the projects’ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the ecological profile of the area, and until after that the social acceptability may be resolved.
We hope for your preferential action on this matter.
We thank you.
Sincerely,
For the earth!
VILLARDO C. ABUEME
Human Rights Education Staff
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
Visayas Islands
President
Homonhon Environment Rescuers organization (HERO)
Homonhon Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar
cc.
Hon. Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan – Mayor of Guiuan
Hon. Ben Evardone – Governor of Eastern Samar
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Eastern Samar – thru the Chairman Committee on Environmental Protection.
The Barangay Council of the Eight Barangays of Homonhon Island
Other concerned Government Agencies
File
THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN MEMBERS
MUNICIPALITY OF GUIUAN
Guiuan, Eastern Samar
Thru: Mr. Rectito Melquiadez
Sangguinang Bayan Secretary
Municipality of Guiuan
Attention: Hon. Gorgonio Cabacaba
Sangguniang Bayan Member
Chairman – Committee on Environmental Protection
The Honorable Sangguniang Bayan Members of Guiuan,
Greetings!
This is in connection with the abrupt passage and endorsement of related documents relative to opening, re-opening and towards continuous mining operations in Homonhon Island. We understand that you are fully aware of the situation in Homonhon Island. But, please be reminded that:
Sec. 2.c, Sec. 26 and 27 of the Local Government Code of 1991 must be complied with prior to any approval of projects or programs that could have adverse effect to the environment and to its people such like on mining.
As to our knowledge, there haven’t been any ‘public consultation’ that had taken place prior to any mining related issues specifically in Brgys. Casuguran and Cagusu-an, where, as the phrase ‘public consultation’ connotes, it should be openly done in public places and open to the public.
LGUs are representatives of their constituents but they don’t constitute the decision of the general public so that on matters where public interests are at stake, decisions must be drawn out with the consent of the people affected.
On our viewpoint, as permanent residents of the Island, Homonhon is environmentally critical area for mining operations specially in medium and large scale basis so that prior to any passage, endorsement or approval for any mining firm to operate in Homonhon including Manicani Island, an Environmental Impact Statement from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), along with the ecological profile of the area, shall be presented and discussed to the affected communities as provided for in PD No. 1586.
in Sec. 19 of RA 7942 otherwise known as “The Mining Act of 1995” states that among the areas closed to mining are (1) ‘historical sites’, where we believe that we all see and incorporate in us the essence of the Magellen’s Landing Event, and (2) ‘waterways’ where we consider those as the bloodlines of life in the Island.
The valuation of the resources that shall be depleted or exhausted due to mining operations must be accounted for. How much revenue shall our government earn during the lifetime of the mine and how much loss shall it bear to the affected communities? For drinking water alone, if a person consumes one liter a day, at an estimated 7,000 population in Homonhon Island, that could be 7,000 liters consumption a day. If we valuate that to Two Pesos per liter, that would equal to P14,000.00/day. For one month, it would be P420,000.00 and for one year, its roughly P5,040,000.00 and that’s for drinking water alone at a price of P2.00/lt. Multiply the amount to the life of the mine plus another 10 years beyond when mine rehabilitation is taking place if it will indeed be rehabilitated, how much that would be and compare it to the taxes shall our government receive and the benefit the affected community that may enjoy. What about its other domestic uses, cooking, bathing, washing clothes, etc…..? How about farms and other livelihood of the island folks that shall be affected and disturbed by the said mining activity, we should valuate them to see the difference.
We understand that it’s within our knowledge that there’s a standing Provincial Ordinance passed and approved by of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Eastern Samar imposing Moratorium on Medium and Large Scale Mining within the whole Province, hence, any endorsement or approval of mining within of this kind shall be contrary to said Ordinance.
Railroading for mining in Homonhon Island without the benefit of due process could only cause chaos and disagreement among its people and other responsible persons or groups. Before, potable water was free everywhere, now, its being bought and its costly, shall we too desire that in due time, also the air that we breath shall be purchased and be available in the market for the people to continue living?
With these, we the concerned groups urged the Local Government Units of the Municipality of Guiuan and the Province of Eastern Samar and all other government agencies concerned including the Barangay Governments of the Eight (8) Barangays in Homonhon Island, to treat any mining project proposal within the bounds of Homonhon with much caution and prudence and defer any passage of resolutions or endorsements until after its people are fully afforded with information about the projects’ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the ecological profile of the area, and until after that the social acceptability may be resolved.
We hope for your preferential action on this matter.
We thank you.
Sincerely,
For the earth!
VILLARDO C. ABUEME
Human Rights Education Staff
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
Visayas Islands
President
Homonhon Environment Rescuers organization (HERO)
Homonhon Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar
cc.
Hon. Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan – Mayor of Guiuan
Hon. Ben Evardone – Governor of Eastern Samar
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Eastern Samar – thru the Chairman Committee on Environmental Protection.
The Barangay Council of the Eight Barangays of Homonhon Island
Other concerned Government Agencies
File
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