Environmental and human rights advocates marched to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday, calling out government officials and mining corporations for what they described as “destructive large-scale mining operations” and “connivance between politics and profit.” 

The protest, led by Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), marked the opening of Mining Hell Week, a nationwide campaign to expose the social, environmental, and governance issues surrounding the mining industry.

“Despite the environmental destruction and human rights violations, large-scale mining is aggressively being pursued by political dynasties with beneficial ownership in mining companies and who are also the same ones implicated in the flood control corruption,” said Jaybee Garganera, ATM national coordinator. “Yet, the DENR continues to allow their mining operations, even when communities strongly object to these projects,” he added.

ATM’s 2024 study on the beneficial ownership of mining firms revealed that the Romualdez family has significant stakes or strong links to companies such as Benguet Corporation, Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation (MMDC), and Brightgreen Resources Corporation (BRC). The report also named other political families, including the Villars and Gatchalians, as having ties to the sector.

Local resistance

In the province of Romblon, community leaders decried the continued mining activities on Sibuyan Island, known as the Galapagos of Asia for its rich biodiversity.

“Mining continues despite the lack of permits and violations of the mining company,” said Elizabeth Ibañez of Sibuyanons Against Mining (SAM). “We cannot comprehend how the DENR has failed to act on our petition for the cancellation of the mining contract of Altai Philippines Mining Corporation (APMC).”

From Nueva Vizcaya, Florentino E. Daynos II of Dupax del Norte condemned Woggle Corporation for pushing a mining exploration project without genuine consultations as mandated by law.

“We have set-up a barricade to assert our objection to mining operations and to demand the revocation of Woggle’s permit. It is unthinkable Woggle Corporation was granted a permit when the area being explored is a watershed,” Daynos said.

He cited findings from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) identifying the area as a watershed, yet the DENR Region 2 still gave the go-signal for the exploration.

“Eventually, however, DENR Region 2 gave a go-signal and the assessment of DENR-PENRO was set aside,” he said.

According to Daynos, tree-cutting has continued in the area despite an existing suspension order. “We call on the DENR to act on our demands by seriously investigating the violations committed by the mining company,” he said.

Mining and coal criticized

Energy transition advocates joined the protest to denounce a new Department of Energy (DOE) advisory that grants exemptions to the 2020 coal moratorium, allowing coal-powered facilities for mining and mineral processing projects.

“With the new advisory, the government is encouraging both new coal and more mining — a policy direction that threatens very lives of Filipino communities,” said Gerry Arances, convenor of the Power for People Coalition (P4P).

“The energy transition needs not come at the cost of our people’s lives and livelihoods. Scientific analyses already state that we need no new mines for a renewable energy transition aligned to the 1.5C goal of the Paris Agreement, and that a coal phaseout can and must happen in the next decade. Mining and coal only exacerbate the climate vulnerabilities and pollution suffered by our people,” he said.

Symbolic protest

To dramatize their demands, demonstrators staged the symbolic “arrest” of three impersonators wearing crocodile heads representing greedy political dynasties, corrupt DENR officials, and profit-hungry mining corporations.

“All these entities connive to impose mining projects that destroy and pollute natural resources, and deprive community residents of their livelihoods – all for the sake of money,” the groups said.

At the end of the protest, participants tied white ribbons to the DENR gates and held a noise barrage in solidarity with the White Friday protests against corruption.