Dangers of mining, threats on mangroves, and more: Kamayan’s September forum echoes issues raised in Green SONA 2025

Green Convergence shed light on some issues raised in the recently concluded State of Nature Assessment (Green SONA) 2025 held in Leyte, for the 423rd Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan forum, “Beyond the Green SONA: Voices, Visions, and Commitments,” held on September 19 via Zoom and Facebook livestream.

In her opening remarks, Green Convergence President Victoria Segovia expressed thanks towards partners and sponsors who made the 20th Green SONA a success, while previewing highlights of the conference, as well as the tree planting initiated annually to offset the carbon footprint produced in conducting the event.

The Green SONA 2025 was co-organized with the Visayas State University (VSU) and sponsored by the First Philippine Holdings, Lasallian Institute for the Environment, Forest Foundation Philippines, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, and Leyte 5th District Rep. Carl Nicolas Cari, with VSU’s official student media organization, Amaranth, as media partner and the University Integrated Media and Public Affairs as the technical organizing partner.

Environmental state of Region 8

Briefing participants of the environmental state of Region 8 where the Green SONA 2025 was held, a recorded discussion of Atty. Dario Suarez, Assistant Regional Director for Management Services of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 8 (DENR 8), was shown in the forum.

Atty. Suarez described Eastern Visayas as one of the most disaster prone regions in the Philippines, facing issues such as landslides, flooding, biodiversity loss, illegal logging, mining, quarrying, and siltation risks, major foreshore and coastal infrastructure, solid waste management, water and air pollution, and climate change impacts.

With this, the DENR 8 formulated seven strategic thrusts, such as (1) adopting climate risk lens in national planning and policy, (2) increasing forest covers, (3) conserving protected areas and biodiversity resources, (4) improving air and water quality and waste management, (5) ensuring water security and resilience in high water-stressed areas, (6) sustainably and responsibly managing mineral resources, and (7) promoting effective land management and governance.

Among the projects detailed by Atty. Suarez was the National Natural Resource Geospatial Database, which monitors forest covers, river basins, mangrove areas, as well as the projects under the region’s jurisdiction.

Region 8 has also adopted the National Greening Program and, upon its implementation, an increase of 15% in forest covers has been observed. Forest protection programs and policies were also mentioned on avoided deforestation, rainforestation, and forest fire protection.

On mining, Atty. Suarez said that the mining industry in the region contributes 1.41 billion pesos in gross domestic product (GDP), with around 2,000 employees. Policies on land ownership to manage land disputes are also enforced.

DENR’s Project TRANSFORM is also set to be replicated in Eastern Samar after its launch in Ormoc City. Project TRANSFORM aims to alleviate poverty through green and blue economy jobs, promote multistakeholder collaboration to address climate change impacts, and more.

Effects of mining in Homonhon Island

Pondering further on mining in the region, Carmi Macapagao, President of the Homonhon Environmental Advocates and Rights Defenders (HEARD), shared the effects of mining operations in Homonhon Island, in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Homonhon Island is described to be an agriculture-rich and water-rich island, home to diverse species of flora and several endemic and critically endangered animal species. It also is recognized as a historical site where Ferdinand Magellan first landed.

This island is however threatened by mining, with active operations in five out of eight barangays. With an estimated land area of 10,500 hectares, 6,479 hectares are bound with a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA), 2,000 hectares are with the Environmental Protection Agency, and 200 hectares with the Philippine Mining Development Corporation.

MPSA is a contract that allows companies to explore and utilize mineral potential areas, but enclosed with corporate responsibilities such as including shares for the affected communities—which were said to be unobserved.

Suffering mining operations for over 41 years, Macapagao said that there have been no significant changes in the community.

Mine dust has covered the island, water sources are contaminated, there is insufficient power supply, roads are not smooth, there are land use conflicts causing division of community, and classes are disrupted.

Macapagao showed the mining situation surrounding Homonhon National High School. “Paano mo ibibigay ‘yan [safe, healthy, and conducive area for learning] sa mga kabataan kung ‘yun ‘yung nakapaligid sa kanya—maingay na heavy equipment at alikabok—na sobrang nakakaistorbo sa klase nila?” she stressed.

All these impacts continuously impose health risks, inadequate regulatory enforcement displaying a need for stronger legal framework, economic dependency on mining causing residents to choose between economic survival and environmental preservation, and a call for community resilience and advocacy.

Nationwide issues on mining

In line with this, Daniel Arias, Campaign Officer for Visayas of Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), provided a nationwide perspective of the effects of mining operations.

Arias briefed the situation of mining under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., emphasizing the lack of consultation with directly affected communities due to the fast-tracking and digitalization of the permitting process. Mentioned also were bills like the Enhanced Mining Fiscal Regime wherein only 2% of mining taxes were approved.

On the other hand, a ‘positive’ outcome is the country’s return as a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which is a multistakeholder initiative revolving around taxing mining companies and reviewing violations.

Furthermore, Arias laid out that the government says there is a ‘huge and urgent’ demand for critical minerals and that the country can supply these as the world transitions to clean energy, however the chambers and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau do not say that mining contributes less than what is exhibited.

He detailed that mining only contributes less than 1% to the country’s economy in GDP, is only less than 0.5% of total employment, and is seen to destroy 18%-20% of the economy, coming from agriculture, forestry, water resources, and fisheries. Arias also said that Bantay Kita reported uncollected taxes from mining amounting to no less than 1 billion pesos.

Violence towards environmentalists, Indigenous Peoples, and women fighting against destructive mining, plantations, and land-grabs was also emphasized as a major issue, making the Philippines one of the most dangerous places in Asia for environmental and human rights defenders.

With these issues on mining at-hand, ATM forwards their calls for a moratorium to stop destructive extractive activities, a reimposition of a ban on open-pit mining, a repeal of the Philippine Mining Act and legislation of Alternative Minerals Management Bill, and the enactment of the Environmental and Human Rights Defenders Bill.

“Ang kalikasan ay kailangan nating proteksyunan dahil ito ay magbibigay sa atin ng masaganang bukas. Samantala, ang minahan, sila ang nagpapalala ng krisis sa klima, sa pagkasira ng ating kalikasan, at ang siyang magdudulot sa atin papuntang kadiliman,” Arias expressed.

Blessings of mangrove rehabilitation

On mangrove rehabilitation, Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon, Trustee of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, shared community initiatives that enabled regeneration of natural resources and mangrove ecosystems health through his recorded discussion.

Ballon said that they have successfully planted 50 hectares of mangroves without a single centavo from government agencies, as a way to address the loss of fish observed for two decades since the 1970s, which affected their livelihoods.

As of date, they have planted a total of 7,000 hectares of mangroves and have established several aquacultures for different marine resources.

Recognizing also the effects of poor solid waste management in fisheries, they have bred initiatives such as raffle draws to proactively engage the communities in addressing issues on waste. These initiatives have been awarded locally and internationally in the past years and have been adopted in other communities.

Ballon also reminded that rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystems are important to ensure food security and build resilience against climate change, given that out of 1,493 municipalities, 832 are coastal, and 60% of the total population are fishermen—yet they are one of the most resource and access-deprived.

Concluding his talk, he then reminded the youth to safeguard the future, especially through continuous mangrove rehabilitation, for the integrity and dignity of the country’s fishermen. “At the end, sinasabi ko, an abundant, clean, healthy, and safe environment for the people and for the next generations,” Ballon added.

Executive Director of Green Convergence, Tessa Oliva, then wrapped up the Kamayan session with a run through of the Green SONA 2025 resolutions, which collated calls and recommendations for the DENR, local government units, academic institutions, civil society organizations and advocacy groups, as well as for the whole Filipino nation to address.

The next Kamayan session will be held on October 17, 2025.

Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan is a monthly initiative organized by Green Convergence that enables non-government organizations (NGOs) and government representatives, the media, students, teachers, church groups, and concerned citizens to discuss, analyze, and create solutions to pressing environmental issues in the country.

For those interested to be a member of Green Convergence, visit these links to register: bit.ly/gcindividual or bit.ly/gcnetorg.