Alexisjhine E.

Rigor
Environmental Law

The illegal gold mining activities in the sleepy town of Bayog in the
southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur have been going on for
the past 15 years. Small scale miners have illegally claimed hundreds of
hectares of lands in Balabag in the mountain village of Depore and since
then have caused tremendous environment pollution. The illegal miners used
cyanide and nitric acid and other hazardous chemicals including mercury to
process gold. (http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/12761/Balabag--IllegalMining-in-Zamboanga-del-Sur)

And despite these problems, Filipino authorities are helpless to putting

a stop to illegal mining in Bayog where miners blasted their way through
tunnels with improvised explosives. Many laborers and miners had died from
landslides and collapsed tunnels, but the greed over the precious metal is
stronger over personal safety and the unabated mining still continues.
The mining process involves the random sinking of mining pits for the
exploitation of the tin and columbite, with devastating effect on the
environment as opened pits are not covered after mining. The activity which
is rudimentary and non-regulated contributes to secondary devastation of
the arable land with resultant effects on the land, ecosystem, and health
threads to inhabitants. The overall after-math effect lives much to be desired
in terms of environmental degradation, potential health hazards and ground
water pollution amongst others.The study found abandoned pits and heaps
of sand, deforestation and uprooting of trees at mining sites, and pollution of
community water sources as the most environmental concerns in the study
area, while other issues like collapse of building and chemical effects were
voted absent in the study area. More so, four (4) socio-economic issues
which include truancy in school attendance reduce farming activities, water
pollution and other health related risks were ranked as serious and very
serious in the community. The most serious issue on the scale is water
pollution which in turns informs other health related risks. In terms of
benefits, 35% of respondents benefited from mining as a source of
employment; 33% in income generation, while 15% from increased
marketing of farm produce. The result of the analyzes showed that
consequences of mining activities were not limited to distortion of soil
landscape but also included extinction of some animals, poor agricultural
productivity, health problems, lack of education, communal conflicts, land
degradation, mine pits and other structural damages. The impact of these
changes has restricted most host community, who depend on agriculture for
subsistence, from advancing and improving their livelihoods.

Its implementing rules lay down the powers and functions of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources,the Provincial/ City
Mining Regulatory Board and in coordination with other concernd
government agencies. An act creating a peoples small-scale mining program
and for other purposes. Policy of the State to promote, develop, protect and
rationalize viable small-scale mining activities in order to generate more
employment opportunities and provide an equitable sharing of the nations
wealth and natural resources, giving due regard to existing rights as herein
provided.
The DENR together with the other concerned government agencies is
designed to achieve an orderly,systematic and rational scheme for the smallscale development and uyilization of minerals resources in certain mineral
areas in order to address the social,economic,technical,and environmental
connected with small-scale mining activities.While the Provincial/CityMining
Regulatory Board (PCMRB0 created under the direct supervision and control
of the Secretary which is the board of PCMRB , is the implementing agency of
the Department of Environment and Natural Ressources which has the
powers and function subject to review by the Secretary.
Residents of a community where illegal mining activities take place can
contribute enormously, because residents are the ears and the eyes of a
community and may obtain information that can lead to arrests of people
involved in these unlawful activities. Residents have the right to report such
activities to their nearest police station, and they can do so
anonymouslyThey also voiced the challenge of mining companies in the area
not employing enough locals, and felt that they were not doing enough to
develop their communities, with the companies often leaving the areas
unrestored after their closure.
(https://www.google.com.ph/#q=how+can+we+help+the+community+about++ILLEGAL+MINING )

Governing bodies, such as provincial, municipal or city mining regulatory

boards, may not be able to perform the necessary environmental monitoring.
Also, they may not be empowered with the necessary police powers and
enough jurisdiction to regulate small-scaleoperations.
Some recommendation on how to address the issues are;illegal miners
must have access to water to conduct mining activities, and a possible
solution would be to cut off all water supplies to the illegal mining
sites.Mining companies can employ security patrol units to monitor illegal
mining activities in their vicinity. This will help to prevent illegal surface
mining and prevent further illegal mining development in the surrounding
areas.A community neighbourhood watch could establish a watch that

specifically looks out for any suspicious activity and reports it to the relevant
law enforcement authorities with regard to illegal mining.