Mining Hell Week, Marinduque Island still calls for a Mining Free Zone declaration
Mogpog, Marinduque – The Marinduque Council for Environmental Council (MACEC) once again renews its petition for the declaration of the island as a mining-free zone. This year marks 30 years since the Boac River mining disaster, when the mine tailings were released and left the said river dead.
Meanwhile, there was a hybrid learning session about the Supreme Court ruling on local government mining bans in solidarity for Anti-Mining Week last Thursday (March 12) at the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement Alyansa Tigil Mina. Jayvee Garganera expressed gratitude for those who participated online and onsite. The Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center shared the case of Occidental Mindoro against Agusan Petroleum and Mineral Corporation.
By March 20, in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Boac River mining disaster, the National Museum in the Marinduque-Romblon area would be hosting an exhibit and discussion with scientists, artists, and stakeholders entitled “Echoes of the Spill”: Marinduque’s Environmental Tragedy 30 years Later. This occasion would also be both via Zoom with Dr. Emerson Sanchez and Dr. Bryan Viray and physically with Rev. Fr. Arvin Madla, with reactors from Marinduque State University.
MarSU Theatre Guild would also be mounting an original play by Jimely Estoya, which was part of PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association) in 2022 as an online play, and a live performance during “Pagdapo ng Sining” last year. Quite recently, “Multo ng Isla” was also part of the Dalumat 10th Research Colloquium of the College of Arts and Social Sciences proceedings last year.
MACEC then rebooted their calls for an island with no mining or extractive industries, “Ang mina’y baha ng kasakiman, ang barikada’y ilog ng paninindigan. Tatlong dekada ng paghihintay, hustisya’y patuloy naming isinisigaw. Ang kabataang Marinduqueño’y nananawagan, ang bawat isa’y may karapatan, mapa-tao o kalikasan. “
With some lines of poems which also served as their call to action, “Hindi minahan ang sagot sa kahirapan/dahil walang responsableng pagmimina./Ang karapatan ay kayamanan. Ang kayamanan ay kalikasan. Ang kalikasan ay buhay. IPAMANA, HUWAG IPAMINA! / 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐐𝐔𝐄 𝐀𝐒 𝐀 “𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄” 𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐄.
30 TAON NG PAKIKIBAKA PARA SA HUSTISYA, KAILAN PA MATATAMASA?
ANG ATING PANALANGIN AT PANAWAGAN:
IPATUPAD ANG REHABILITASYON NG MGA SINIRANG KALIKASAN NG MARCOPPER
DEKLARA ANG MARINDUQUE BILANG “NO-GO ZONE FOR MINING”!
PRESIDENT MARCOS, MARCOPPER MPSA APPLICATION TULUYAN NANG IBASURA!!!
