MALAKING BAHAGI NG BROOKE’S POINT SA PALAWAN, BINAHA NITONG MGA NAKARAANG LINGGO! ANG ITINUTURONG DAHILAN NG MGA RESIDENTE, ANG PAGKAKALBO NG KANILANG KAGUBATAN DAHIL SA MALAWAKANG PAGMIMINA?!
Ang probinsya ng Palawan, quota na sa baha! Dahil sa malakas na pag-uulan nitong mga nakaraang linggo, makailang beses nang lumubog sa baha ang ilang bahagi ng probinsya.
Ito ang mga nagsanga-sanga nang suliranin sa kanilang bayan. Ang itinuturong dahilan ng mga residente, ang pagputol sa libo-llibong mga puno at pagkasira ng kanilang kabundukan.
Epekto rin daw ito ng isang napakalaking industriya na bagamat nagbibigay ng trabaho sa mga residente rito, unti-unti namang sumisira sa kanilang likas
yaman— ang large-scale mining!
Ang epekto ng pagmimina sa kalikasan, timbangin natin.
Panoorin ang Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Special Report sa video na ito.
"Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" (One at Heart, Jessica Soho) is the Philippines' top-rating news magazine program, hosted by one of the most-awarded broadcast journalists in the country, Jessica Soho. It features human interest stories, food, news personalities, travel, trends and pop culture.'KMJS' airs every Sunday, 8:15 PM on GMA Network. Subscribe to youtube.com/gmapublicaffairs for our full episodes. #KMJS
Ang probinsya ng Palawan, quota na sa baha! Dahil sa malakas na pag-uulan nitong mga nakaraang linggo, makailang beses nang lumubog sa baha ang ilang bahagi ng probinsya.
Ito ang mga nagsanga-sanga nang suliranin sa kanilang bayan. Ang itinuturong dahilan ng mga residente, ang pagputol sa libo-llibong mga puno at pagkasira ng kanilang kabundukan.
Epekto rin daw ito ng isang napakalaking industriya na bagamat nagbibigay ng trabaho sa mga residente rito, unti-unti namang sumisira sa kanilang likas
yaman— ang large-scale mining!
Ang epekto ng pagmimina sa kalikasan, timbangin natin.
Panoorin ang Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Special Report sa video na ito.
"Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" (One at Heart, Jessica Soho) is the Philippines' top-rating news magazine program, hosted by one of the most-awarded broadcast journalists in the country, Jessica Soho. It features human interest stories, food, news personalities, travel, trends and pop culture.'KMJS' airs every Sunday, 8:15 PM on GMA Network. Subscribe to youtube.com/gmapublicaffairs for our full episodes. #KMJS
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FunTranscript
00:00One of the main reasons for flooding in Palawan last week is mining in the town of Brooks Point.
00:14Let's take a look at the effects of mining on the environment.
00:25No typhoon has entered the Philippines this year.
00:31The water re-routed. It went there. The vehicles were stranded.
00:37But the province of Palawan is now in danger of flooding.
00:41Because of the heavy rainfall in the past few weeks, some parts of the province were flooded several times.
00:49One of the most affected areas is the town of Brooks Point in Southern Palawan.
01:00Where the water was flooded, not only was it white, but it was also red.
01:07The water was flooding the houses and the roads.
01:13It was mixed with a type of soil that is called laterite.
01:19It was flooding the houses.
01:24These are the people who are complaining to their town.
01:29The main reason is the cutting of thousands of trees and the destruction of their mountains.
01:36The pictures went viral online.
01:39Even though it was caught in 2017, the situation did not change.
01:48The effects of a huge industry that provides jobs to the residents here,
01:53and profits from the local and national economy,
01:57are slowly destroying their natural resources.
02:01The fish is really reduced because of the white and red.
02:06If mining continues here, not only will the water be red, but it will also be filled with white.
02:12The mountains will be there for a long time.
02:15The mines, once they get their rights, they will be taken away.
02:20They will be taken away.
02:22They will be taken away.
02:24They will be taken away.
02:26They will be taken away.
02:28They will be taken away.
02:31The mines, once they get their rights, they will be taken away.
02:35They will be taken away.
02:36They will be taken away.
02:38This is what the residents of Palawan are complaining about because of the mines.
02:49This Thursday, I flew to Palawan to share with us the hot topic in the province.
02:56We are here in the town of Brooks Point in Southern Palawan.
03:00The hot issue here is about the mines.
03:04Especially in the past few weeks, from January to February,
03:09this place experienced heavy flooding.
03:13This is something that has not happened in the past few years.
03:18On the island of Palawan, you can find the largest nickel mine in the country.
03:26Nickel is a metallic substance that is the main ingredient in the production of steel,
03:32batteries, barriers, and even electric vehicles.
03:36There are six active mines in the province.
03:40One of them operates in the town of Brooks Point.
03:4480% of the operation of the mines here is in the protected area,
03:49the MMPL or Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape,
03:54while the remaining 20% is outside the protected area.
04:01The last frontier is what has been called Palawan for a long time.
04:04In this long but vast land, there are many types of animals and plants that can only be seen here.
04:12But in the past few decades,
04:14this land has been facing many dangers.
04:22This is the first time this has happened.
04:24Yes, I was born here and I was born blind.
04:26There are houses here, but there are no colors.
04:30The water is flooding the houses, the roads, and the roads.
04:35Why is that?
04:36It's also possible because of the number of trees cut down.
04:40So when it rains, when the rainwater falls, all the cans go down.
04:46So you are sure that this laterite came from the mines?
04:49Yes, it really came from the mountains.
04:51Laterite is a type of soil rich in iron and aluminum
04:56that is extracted by the mines along with the mining of nickel.
05:00This is also called red soil in local terms.
05:04Naturally, if only a small amount is exposed, it should not be harmful.
05:09But if there is human activity, it can be harmful.
05:15The mining issue has been an issue in your area for a long time.
05:18What is your sentiment here?
05:20I am just saddened by our officials.
05:23They are looking at how many people will benefit,
05:25but they are not looking at what will be the end of this later.
05:29They are the only ones who will benefit from this,
05:32but we are the ones who will be affected.
05:37Residents who rely on the sea are also affected by the operations of the mines in Brooks Point,
05:43like fisherman George.
05:46How is your catch today?
05:48This is our catch. It wasn't like this before.
05:50How many hours did you catch this?
05:52I caught two areas, ma'am.
05:54This was full before?
05:55Yes, this was full.
05:56How are you now?
05:57We have nothing to do, ma'am.
05:58Do you still have anything to sell? Just vegetables?
06:01Yes, of course.
06:02What is the reason behind this?
06:04It's really white, ma'am.
06:19These fishermen are also in trouble.
06:21They are not able to sell the fish they caught.
06:25Is it true that the fish have spines?
06:28Yes, ma'am.
06:29Let me see.
06:31There it is.
06:32It wasn't like this before, right?
06:34Yes, ma'am.
06:35This small one has spines.
06:39Let me see the other one.
06:42This one too.
06:45If they catch just a few now, the fish still has spines.
06:49It wasn't like this before.
06:52Maybe it's because of the weather?
06:54No, ma'am.
06:56Brother!
06:58Are you all there?
07:00Is there a police station nearby?
07:06The fishermen are still in trouble.
07:08You can see what's happening in the sea.
07:12It's because it's white.
07:14It turned brownish-red.
07:17They use stones to weigh the fish.
07:21You can see the spines.
07:25What do you think is the reason?
07:28Latterite.
07:29Latterite?
07:30Latterite is from the Minahan?
07:33Yes, it's from the Minahan.
07:34They used to have white spines
07:37because of the latterite that the Minahan used to catch the fish.
07:44Moharin also has a lobster farm in Brooks Point.
07:48We were looking for a place to sell lobster
07:50because that area is where we get the shells.
07:55Moharin earns P50,000 a month in this business.
08:00But when his lobster farm was right in front of him,
08:04the fence he built,
08:06and the lobster trap he made,
08:09were destroyed.
08:10It was painful for me
08:12because all I could see was the lobster trap.
08:14They told us not to take pictures,
08:17not to make videos.
08:18I asked,
08:19what's the reason?
08:20Is it because of us?
08:21Is it because of our ancestors?
08:23Moharin's business went bankrupt
08:26until he decided to start a business.
08:30This is what happens when we go to harvest.
08:34Harvesters pass by.
08:35But now, in this situation,
08:37it's very difficult for us to pass by.
08:39Even if only people pass by,
08:41it's difficult because the water is very thick.
08:44Just like this,
08:45it's already very thick.
08:47But even his lobster farm
08:49was not saved from the effects of the flood.
08:51It's just next to a mountain of mud
08:54where the nickel mines are located.
08:57Those are the stockpiles.
08:59When it rains,
09:00the content of the stockpile leaks.
09:02It leaks into the mud.
09:03That's how the flood looks like.
09:06It wasn't like that before.
09:07They say it's not because of them.
09:09They say they can't do anything
09:11because the authorities are already above us.
09:13They already approved their papers for MGB and DNR.
09:17It's really a loss.
09:18My expenses are there.
09:20That's not enough.
09:2150,000 pesos.
09:22If my rice pays,
09:23it's less than half.
09:24If this continues,
09:26our tribe will really suffer.
09:28Ronald will plant rice instead.
09:31He can't be helped.
09:33It's a waste because the rice already has fruits.
09:37Yes.
09:38When are you going to plant rice?
09:40We're going to plant rice.
09:42The problem is,
09:43the harvester can't do it.
09:44It's already stuck.
09:45It's a waste.
09:46We don't know what will happen.
09:48We're really in a loss.
09:50How many square meters of rice do you have?
09:53This one.
09:54One hectare.
09:55How much do you earn from that?
09:57Around 40,000 pesos.
10:00Aside from fishing,
10:02the main source of income for the residents of Brooks Point
10:06According to the residents,
10:07they are able to provide jobs to the residents
10:10and they are also able to contribute to the local and national economy.
10:14But according to the fishermen,
10:17how come most of them are now affected by mining?
10:23Those who are in charge,
10:24I hope they will also pay attention to our livelihood
10:27where mining and agriculture should not be included.
10:31Mining operation in Brooks Point is just one of them.
10:35For now,
10:36the IPILAN Nickel Corporation or INC
10:40will be added by another one,
10:42the Kalmian Nickel Incorporated,
10:44which is owned by Macro Asia Corporation.
10:50In 1993,
10:51the government ordered the INC
10:53to conduct a mining operation in Brooks Point
10:57within 25 years.
11:01In 2006,
11:02the INC started the exploration in Mt. Mantalingahan,
11:06which is the highest mountain on the island.
11:11But in 2009,
11:12the area was declared as a protected area.
11:16Because of this,
11:17mining should not be allowed.
11:22But the INC still obtained clearance
11:25to continue their operation.
11:29Wherever there's mining,
11:30the people are poor.
11:31In 2016,
11:32led by former DNR Secretary Gina Lopez,
11:36the ECC of the INC cancelled the operation
11:40after it was reported that they cut more than 7,000 trees.
11:46But again,
11:47they were forced to operate
11:49under the leadership of the new DNR Secretary in 2020.
11:54If the mining operation in Brooks Point continues,
11:58the 28,000 trees that were cut
12:01will be added.
12:03This will have a huge impact on the environment,
12:06especially on these trees,
12:08which are endemic or native to Palawan.
12:11Just like the tree of Almasiga,
12:13which is important for the daily life of plants,
12:16just like Nelson.
12:17Nelson,
12:18what did you harvest from the mountains?
12:20Nelson,
12:21what did you harvest from the mountains?
12:23This is the Almasiga tree.
12:25We call it Bagtik.
12:27We don't sell it,
12:28it's just for lighting.
12:29For cooking?
12:30Yes, for cooking.
12:31If you don't have a stove,
12:32you can cook it.
12:33This is for lighting,
12:34if you don't have a light.
12:35Mother Nature is really good.
12:39You can get a light like this,
12:43a tree of Almasiga.
12:45This is also what they are looking for.
12:48Bagtik is used to make paint,
12:53varnish,
12:54wax,
12:55and printing ink.
12:56How much does one sack cost?
12:58For this color,
13:01because it's not classified,
13:03it's P35 per kilo.
13:05P25?
13:06That's okay.
13:07That's okay,
13:08because back then,
13:09this was only 5 cents.
13:12But what's alarming here
13:14are the trees of Almasiga
13:16that are now disappearing.
13:1928,000 trees were cut down in 2017.
13:23There are Almasiga trees there.
13:25For now,
13:26no Almasiga trees have been cut down.
13:28But what they cut down
13:29is our Tubig Kanlungan.
13:31It's a sacred place.
13:33That mountain is open.
13:35The rivers there
13:36support the dams.
13:42The LGU,
13:43or Local Government Unit of Brooks Point,
13:45took action
13:46on the request of the residents.
13:48But their mayor,
13:49who is in charge here,
13:50was fired from his position
13:52until the operation
13:53of the dams was completely restored.
13:55When it comes to the requirements,
13:57the one who really insisted
13:59that this should be done
14:00is the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
14:02They also go through
14:03the Palauan Council
14:04for Sustainable Development.
14:07The co-proposals
14:08and security staff
14:09of the Ipilan Nickel Corporation
14:11in Brooks Point
14:14When the residents
14:15complained,
14:16our regional director
14:17issued a cease and desist order
14:19to temporarily stop
14:21their operation.
14:23Whatever benefits
14:24that we receive
14:25from their land,
14:26we will all benefit
14:27as much as they want.
14:29The Supreme Court
14:30also issued
14:31a writ of Kalikasan
14:32to the DENR,
14:34to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau
14:36or MGB,
14:37and to the Ipilan Nickel Corporation
14:41But the case
14:42was destroyed
14:43just last year.
14:46This April 2024,
14:48the Ipilan Nickel Corporation
14:50provided assistance
14:51to the Palauan Council
14:53to have a 25-year
14:55mining moratorium
14:57in Palauan.
14:58The purpose of the moratorium
14:59is really to stop the operation.
15:01There will be no mining
15:03in the local government
15:05for the next 25 or 50 years.
15:07But the moratorium
15:08did not complete
15:10their assistance,
15:12so the Arzobispo
15:14helped them
15:15to have a signature campaign
15:17against the mines.
15:19This month,
15:20there were three hearings
15:22and the decision
15:23is expected to be released
15:25next week.
15:26It's sad
15:27that we have a lot of laws
15:29about this,
15:30but it's not being implemented
15:32properly.
15:33Kalikasan is a place
15:35that is listening to us.
15:37You don't need a typhoon
15:39to destroy us.
15:41There are six active mines
15:43that operate in Palauan,
15:45and 11 have MPSA
15:48or allowed to operate,
15:50while there are 78
15:52mining companies
15:53that are applying now
15:54to mine on the island.
15:56And some of the applicants
15:58not only want to operate
16:00in Southern Palauan,
16:03but also in Northern Palauan
16:05where there are famous
16:07tourist spots
16:08like El Nido and Koron.
16:11It's increasing because
16:12the price of nickel
16:13has actually increased.
16:14Our question to the MGB
16:16is, have we read
16:17Section 19 of the Mining Act
16:18that prohibits mining
16:20in protected areas?
16:21I think that should be
16:22the subject of a dialogue.
16:24They should return the law
16:25and if we are not sure about that,
16:27isn't it better
16:29and more practical
16:31to stop and investigate first?
16:34Let's investigate
16:35the areas that are being mined.
16:38Although there are benefits
16:39to mining,
16:41residents and residents
16:43are more worried
16:45about its bad effects.
16:47While we were shooting
16:48here in a field,
16:50here in Barangay Mambalot,
16:53suddenly there were residents
16:55who came to us
16:57to protest
17:00against mining operations here.
17:03They have flags.
17:05Do you have anything to say, Ma'am?
17:07We ask the government
17:09to listen to us
17:10because this is our wealth,
17:11the mountains.
17:12We may not be rich,
17:13but this is what we will give
17:15to our children and grandchildren.
17:17They say that mining
17:19can help
17:20because there are schools.
17:21The question is,
17:22until when?
17:23Because the mountains
17:24are there for a long time.
17:26Mining,
17:27once they get their rights,
17:29will be lost.
17:30They will leave it.
17:31The only thing left for us
17:32is the land.
17:33That is why we are fighting.
17:34There are many benefits
17:36to the residents
17:37that allow the Epilandical Corporation
17:39to have an operation
17:41in our ancestral domain.
17:42So the benefits,
17:43just like our residents
17:45who can educate our children
17:47and help their parents
17:49and help their siblings,
17:51we can say that it is sustainable.
17:53The government said
17:54that mining is already affected
17:56despite the benefits
17:57that we implemented.
17:59We accepted it.
18:00We are not a champion
18:01of the Epilandical Corporation.
18:03We listened to the statement
18:04of the Minahang Operating
18:06in Brooks Point.
18:07They refused to be interviewed.
18:09Instead, they gave a statement.
18:11The INC follows strictly
18:13the laws and regulations
18:15of the Philippines
18:16as part of the Philippine Mining Act
18:18and the regulations of the DNR,
18:20MGB, and other agencies.
18:22The Epilandical Corporation
18:23has an important contribution
18:25to the establishment
18:26of Brooks Point, Palawan
18:27through mining.
18:29The INC also recognizes
18:31the rights of the residents
18:32of their land.
18:34It is important to understand
18:35that the type of land in the area
18:37that is naturally rich in laterite
18:39along with the effects
18:40of climate change
18:41such as frequent rains,
18:42floods, and landslides
18:44can cause changes
18:46in the environment.
18:47Our position remains
18:49despite the protests
18:51that have been proven
18:52according to the law
18:53of our operation
18:54that has a visa
18:55and clear documents.
18:56The operation of the Epilandical Corporation
18:58continues
18:59because the mine
19:00is outside
19:01of the so-called
19:02protected landscape.
19:03It is part of the responsibility
19:04of the INC
19:05to carry out
19:06progressive rehabilitation
19:07where the mining area
19:08is slowly being restored
19:09or repaired
19:10while the operation
19:11is still ongoing.
19:13It is a disgrace
19:14and sad
19:15that mining is allowed
19:18including cutting of trees
19:20in an area
19:21which is supposed
19:22to be protected
19:23under the Strategic
19:24Environmental Plan
19:25for Palawan.
19:26We also tried
19:27to get a statement
19:28from the Department
19:29of Environment
19:30and Natural Resources
19:31or DENR
19:32about this issue
19:33but they still have no answer
19:35while they are working
19:36on this issue.
19:38Mining is
19:39an economic activity
19:40first and foremost
19:41so definitely
19:42it helps
19:43our local community
19:44in terms of taxes
19:46and financial benefits
19:47just like the national
19:48it provides jobs
19:50it provides support
19:52to the local communities.
19:53Mining in itself
19:54is actually
19:55a disruptive activity
19:57so this activity
19:58will really affect you
19:59because you will be
20:00cutting the land.
20:01It means
20:02we have to do it properly
20:03and that is why
20:04it is called
20:05responsible mining.
20:06When you mine
20:07if you cut the forest
20:09and it rains
20:10all the water
20:11that will fall
20:12from your cut
20:13will just flow.
20:15My challenge to them
20:17what is responsible mining?
20:19You killed
20:20you killed
20:21a lot of forests
20:22then you plant
20:23a thousand trees
20:25on each tree
20:26that you destroyed.
20:28Did you plant
20:29that small tree
20:30will it hold
20:31the water?
20:32It still won't hold it.
20:33It took
20:34hundreds of years
20:35thousands of years
20:36for the forest
20:37to develop
20:38so that it has
20:39the ability
20:40the ecological function
20:42that it can retain water.
20:44The forest ecosystem
20:46is the source
20:47of our air.
20:49Our forests
20:50are our airbags
20:52during the typhoon.
20:54Restoration is a long game.
20:55You can't
20:56one million seedlings
20:58planted in one day
20:59globally
21:00it won't work.
21:01If nature is not okay
21:02we will never be okay.
21:04We are just saying
21:05that there is work
21:06there are scholarships
21:07and what they are saying
21:08that if you don't like
21:09mining
21:10then don't use cellphones.
21:11We are not against
21:12mining per se
21:13but
21:14mining
21:15should be prohibited
21:16in areas like Palaman.
21:18Because it has a special
21:19significance.
21:20It is the last
21:21ecological frontier.
21:22The government
21:23can look for
21:24alternatives
21:26because Brooks Point
21:27has been able
21:28to survive
21:29as a first class municipality
21:30that's because of mining.
21:33We won't change anything.
21:35Our country's growth
21:36is bigger
21:37than agriculture
21:38and tourism.
21:40If our mountains
21:41are destroyed
21:42maybe this will be
21:43the last story
21:44that Palawan
21:45will disappear
21:46from the Philippines.
21:47The water flows
21:48to our homes
21:49and to the streets.
21:52I hope
21:53this storm
21:54I hope
21:55it will reach
21:56even deeper.
21:57A small
21:59but important issue
22:00is the discussion
22:01about mining
22:03in Palawan
22:04so that it won't
22:05just be a problem
22:07in Putik.
22:12Thank you for watching
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