Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 4) — Altai Philippines Mining Corp. (APMC) was told to stop operations for now in Sibuyan Island in Romblon after it was given three notices of violations by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), an environmentalist said.
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According to Rodne Galicha, executive director of the environmental group Living Laudato Si, a multi-sectoral dialogue was held on Friday and led to an agreement that APMC will cease operations until after all issues related to the environmental violations are addressed.
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“At the end, dahil nga sa napakahabang barikada na, tinawagan ng governor ang regional executive director ng DENR kung ano ang magiging pagkilos ng kagawaran,” Galicha said. “‘Yun nga mayroong imbestigayon na ginawa ang DENR last week of January hanggang February at meron silang natuklasan na mga violations sa Altai Philippines Mining Corporation.”
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[Translation: At the end, because of the days-long barricade, the governor called the DENR regional executive director to ask what action the department is going to make. The DENR conducted an investigation from the last week of January until February and they found violations by the Altai Philippines Mining Corporation.]
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Representatives of the mining firm, environmental groups, DENR officials, and local government officials attended the dialogue on Friday, along with the Philippine National Police, and other stakeholders.
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“Sinabi rin naman ng mining company na kung ano ang sasabihin ng kagawaran ay susundin nila at ikokonsulta nila sa principals sa Maynila,” Galicha.
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“Kung kaya ang agreement ay mag-stop muna sila. Status quo muna ‘yong company. Walang movement,” he added.
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[Translation: The mining company said they will do whatever the DENR tells them and will consult their principals in Manila. That’s why the agreement is for the company to stop its operations for now. The company is in status quo. No movement.]
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The violations
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According to documents shared by Galicha to CNN Philippines, APMC violated the following:
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— Article 51 of Presidential Decree (PD) 1067 or the Water Code of the Philippines and Sections 2(c) and 2(f) of DENR Administrative Order 2004-24 during the construction of a docking port and the flattening of the proposed roadway by dumping gravel into the water;
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— Section 4 of PD 1586 for the construction of a causeway without an environmental compliance certificate (ECC);
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— Section 77 of PD 705 for cutting or clearing trees without a permit.
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The last two notices were posted on the gates of the company’s facilities on Saturday, as APMC declined to receive them when they were served by DENR-Mimaropa on Friday night.
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According to Galicha, the APMC representative said the notices should be sent to the firm’s head office in Manila instead.
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According to APMC’s project description for scoping, the company is set to extract nickel for 25 years in San Fernando, Romblon.
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The project covers 1,580.8010 hectares and will also build a waste dump, haul roads and access roads, settling ponds, and a drainage system, among others.
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Sibuyan Island residents and environmental groups were demanding APMC to show its documents and permits since the firm is planning to export 50,000 metric tons of nickel ore.
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Galicha claimed around 1,000 people were part of the barricade on Saturday. The human barricade in front of APMC’s private port is now on its 12th day.
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“Magbabantay kami hanggang Tuesday [We will be here until Tuesday],” Galicha said, adding that what they really want is for APMC’s mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) to be revoked.
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In 2011, the DENR canceled the company’s MPSA to explore resources on Sibuyan Island because of a complaint by then San Fernando Mayor Dindo Rios.
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The DENR lifted the cease and desist order on APMC’s operations in September 2021.
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CNN Philippines is still waiting for the statements of DENR and APMC as of publishing.
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On violence
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Tension rose on Friday as police broke up the human barricade, leaving two persons hurt. This allowed three mining trucks carrying nickel ore to pass through.
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Protesters said Kagawad Jhay Romero, one of the injured, was handcuffed by the police.
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He was released some two minutes later because residents were taking pictures of the arrest, they added.
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On Saturday, Romblon Police Provincial Director Col. Jonathan Paguio said officers were in the area to maintain peace and order.
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“Ang inyong kapulisan ng Romblon ay walang kinakatigan. Kami ay tumutupad lamang sa aming sinumpaang tungkulin na panatalihin ang kapayapaan,” Paguio said.
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“Kung may ulat na may nagawang paglabag sa karapatang pantao o pang-aabuso ang mga nakatalagang kapulisan, ito ay aming tutugunan at pinaiimbistigahan upang mabigyan ng karampatang parusa ang mga nang-aabuso,” he added.
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[Translation: Romblon police favor no one. We are only doing our sworn duty to maintain peace. If there are reports of human rights violations made by the police, we will address and investigate these to give appropriate sanctions to the violators.]
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