THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it cannot establish a link between mining activities and low fisheries yields in Manicani island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, the site of a suspended mine operated by Nickel Asia Corp.
Mario F. Chan, head executive assistant to DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, told reporters on the sidelines of the 64th Annual Mining Safety and Environment that the DENR is still studying the issue of allowing mining to resume on Manicani island.
Mr. Chan said that a delegation from the DENR, along with Mr. Cimatu, visited the island last Nov. 22 to inspect the area.
“The place was very clean… the secretary looked around. We went around the island and we went to the beach where they planted mangroves courtesy of the DENR,” he added.
Mr. Chan said that the issue of declining fisheries yields was brought up by anti-mining activists, which led to the suspension of Nickel Asia subsidiary Hinatuan Mining Corp.’s (HMC) operations in the island.
Mining on Manicani is covered by HMC’s Mineral Production Sharing Agreement, in force since the 1990s.
The island was heavily affected by typhoon Yolanda in 2013. At the time, the DENR had halted HMC’s operations for two years, citing environmental concerns.
“We went there to assess the area. There are no fruit-bearing trees because of Yolanda and there are boats but they don’t get enough fish. But mining is not the reason there are no fish,” he added.
Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Acting director Wilfredo G. Moncano told reporters last week that the renewal of HMC’s permit is unlikely.
MGB also said that it will be conducting its own study on the island’s conditions. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato
