Placer Dome & Marcopper: Out of sight, out of mined

Out of sight, out of mined from Oxfam Australia on Vimeo.

Some years ago, I was invited by MACEC (Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns), to watch this documentary on the problems caused by the Marcopper mine tailings spill that happened 15 years ago today. The film was first screened in Australia to mark the start of the APEC Mining Ministerial in Perth in 2007. Produced by Oxfam Australia, the documentary entitled "Out of Sight, Out of Mined", and apparently referred to how the mining company suddenly packed up and abandoned the mines, their responsibilities to the people of Marinduque and rehabilitation issues resulting from the disaster.

Looking further back...

It was the American Exploration and Mining Company, a subsidiary of Placer Development Limited of Vancouver, Canada which optioned the property in 1956, after recognizing the potential for a porphyry copper type orebody.

Exploration was done during the period 1957-1964, and geological mappings, diamond drillings, and finally surface and underground diamond drillings were done. In 1960, an agreement was made with Nippon Mining Company wherein Nippon would do the tunneling and drilling in return for a long-term sales contract when the property started production.

Tunneling and drilling were done by contract crews from Surigao Consolidated Mining sent by Nippon in 1960, until Pamex Mining Company, under a contract with Bezotte Drilling Company, took over the work from 1962 to 1964. A total of 141 holes were drilled with an aggregate driven length of 16,850 meters and 6,400 meters of underground drifts, cross cuts and raises. From this, an orebody of 86 million tons of sulfide ore containing 600,000 tons of copper was established.

It was to be the Tapian open pit porphyry copper mine located near the geographic center of the island of Marinduque. It was only in January 1968 when the big push to get the mine into production started. In the middle of 1968, an all-weather road was built linking the port of Balogo, where a dock was constructed, with the minesite. Excavation for the mill and other plant buildings was also started.

By mid-October 1969, enough ore was exposed in the pit to sustain the 15,000 tons per day milling operation, and Marcopper Mining Corporation was born.

In November 1969, the initial shipment of 3,170.5 tons of copper concentrate was dispatched to Nippon Mining Company, Ltd. In Japan. Other shipments were later made to Korea, Taiwan, People’s Republic of China, Germany and the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (PASAR) in Leyte.

The original plan was to have an 18,000 tons per day milling capacity. After only five years of production, it was expanded to 30,000 tons per day. After almost 22 years of operation of Mt. Tapian, Marcopper produced 779.6 million kilograms of copper metal, 23.9 million grams of gold and 127.9 million grams of silver. At the eventual closure of Tapian in 1990, the San Antonio project was commenced.

The San Antonio copper orebody lies some three kilometers north of the Tapian mining complex. It has an estimated mineable reserves of 198 million tons of copper ore with an average grade of 0.44% Cu – equivalent to a potential 20-year mining life.
Actual construction of the San Antonio Project’s major facilities commenced in 1991. Management negotiated for a USD 40-million long-term facility needed to finance the project. Construction progressed despite delays in late deliveries, foundation modifications, heavy rains and labor problems.

With the accidental spillage of mine tailing from the old Tapian pit into the Boac River, the worst environmental disaster in the country’s history, the operation of Marcopper was closed down in 1996. A string of environmental issues that includes the threat of new dam collapse and health related problems in the affected communities remain unresolved to this day.

Of super moons, super dams and USGS

All was quiet on the Marinduque waterfronts as the supermoon sailed, but national television had a hayday with all of them asking the oft-repeated question, “are we ready?”.

That is, are we ready for the next disastrous earthquake, or tsunami, or volcanic eruption, or big flood? Everyone agrees that we could not blame it on the moon. The unanimous response offered in various tones was, “no, we are not ready, right”.

The Filipino is said to be fatalistic and so it appears that the words “it’s all up to God” are often uttered, promoted and find home.

Marinduque Concern

Still, for the island of Marinduque that has experienced such disasters, including man-made ones, it should somehow open those with perpetually closed eyes to the fact that this could be the site of the next natural or man-made disaster, indeed.

Isn’t it so that the same USGS (United States Geological Survey) that was very much in the middle of the Japan quake studies and tsunami warnings , is the same USGS that reported the instabilities on, not one, not two, but four major Marcopper dams in Marinduque that are virtually abandoned now posing significant threat to lives, properties and the Marinduque ecosystems? The product of their multi- million peso government-funded studies on Marinduque’s mining-related environmental and human health issues?

It will be exactly 15 years this coming Thursday, March 24 when the Boac River became famous worldwide as the victim of the worst environmental disaster in Philippine history. Millions of tons of mine waste destroyed that river then, a disaster that occurred only three years after one of those dams burst in 1993, with millions of toxic waste rendering another river, the Mogpog River biologically dead until today.

Have people grown so weary after decades of vocal opposition from the affected communities in Calancan Bay, in Sta. Cruz, in Mogpog and in Boac? Heavy metal contamination in their blood have hounded those children in the Sta. Cruz bay area and no one knows how the children in the other areas affected are doing now.

Somebody waved court papers and imaginary dollar bills and the good people of this island were hushed, probably thinking there must be something in it for them. But for all you know, the most publicized of these cases has been thrown unceremoniously into the garbage bin. The servile sycophants are suddenly hushed.

Photos courtesy of Allan Lissner.

Another super moon

So much talk these days about super moons and perigrees, as tomorrow, March 19 the moon will be full at perigree and is called an extreme super moon. Lots of speculation therefore as ebbs and flows of ocean tides are affected by the moon's gravity, and some say volcano response is higher when there's a full moon, while others say it's just rubbish.

Many observe the 'unusual' moon halo these days and there are attempts to give meaning to it. It is said that in the years 1955 and 1992, calamities occurred on the eve of super moon, cyclone Tracy hit Australia in 1974, when it again occurred, etc.

It's all coincidence say the astronomers. So we could just maybe drag an easy chair and look at an unusually large full moon tomorrow evening.

But if it rains hard in Marinduque as that extreme super moon glows, one could only hope that, may God forbid, we don't hear about the earth dams breaking.

Marinduque Harana

In the olden days in Marinduque and many other rural areas in the country, a man in love would stage a harana (serenade) for the girl of his dreams. At night in front of her nipa house he'd sing songs that spoke of undying love and devotion. Moral support would be provided to the man by his closest friends, who'd also join him in the singing.

The girl was not expected to show her excitement or interest in the man and play hard-to-get, pakipot, as showing positive response right away would be considered inappropriate. This courtship ritual was also a popular feature of local movies in the 60’s.

Up to the present time on this island, however, one might still encounter haranas in the rural areas of Torrijos and Santa Cruz. Girls are still expected to play coy, mahinhin, and would not openly show their love lest she might give the impression of being a flirt, malandi or kiri.

From the looks of it, however, with the advance of modernization, this game of courtship has faded away from local villages, with girls almost unmindful now of labels i.e. malandi or mahinhin. More open to expressing themselves now, girls associate this with new-found freedom and ‘liberation’, kalayaan.

Listening to such harana songs as a form of entertainment is still welcomed by a large audience in such areas, or during special occasions. “Harana” was a special activity incorporated in past “Araw ng Marinduque” celebrations with municipalities sending their delegation of costumed singers and actors prepared to share with province-mates their own interpretations, such as the above photo, taken during such an event in Santa Cruz.

Earthquake epicentered near Lubang Island

Only hours after the recent China and Japan earthquakes, a moderate earthquake hit Mindoro (magnitude 5), on March 11, with its epicenter traced at 15 km east of Lubang Island at a deeper 101 km, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

No one would and could venture into giving serious warnings as to when the next earthquake will occur and where. We could only look back and review what had occured in the past. Extract from my previous post, "Philippine Segment of Pacific Ring of Fire Roaring", 1/18/10 follows:

In June of 2006, Philvocs warned that an earthquake with a magnitude 7.2 on the Richter Scale “is overdue” and could hit the Philippines soon affecting at least 38 percent of all residential buildings in Metro Manila. “The last strong quake to hit us was in 1994. With time, the possibility of being hit by a strong earthquake is increasing”. 90 strong quakes had been recorded here over the last 400 years, or a statistical average of one major quake every four to five years. (manilastandardtoday.com 6.27.2006)

But no strong quake has been recorded for a decade after the 1994 quake in Mindoro that killed at least 78 people and caused panic in Gasan when hit by a minor tsunami after the quake.

(USGS Map showing Lubang Fault between Mindoro and Marinduque)

Marinduque quake

On October 20, 2006, Philvocs reported a 5.3 magnitude earthquake in Marinduque around 10:30 p.m. with tremors reaching as far as Tagaytay and Quezon City.

A second earthquake struck around 1:27 a.m. the next day with the epicenter located 35 kilometers south and 89 degrees west of Boac, Marinduque. The Lubang and Marinduque faults were identified as the sources of the earthquake. (pinoyexchange.com/forums)



Philvocs Director Renato Solidum,Jr. then reported that the Marinduque quake’s epicenter was traced to the eastern segment of the Lubang Fault located offshore between Mindoro island and Marinduque. Five major aftershocks and more than 700 minor aftershocks were recorded.

The quake caused no damage to property but sent many residents in Marinduque to panic. Solidum then said that despite the earthquake at the Lubang Fault, people should remain alert against "the big quake." He said there is no way to predict where or when the big quake will occur.

"Lubang Fault does not generate that powerful a quake. But the Philippine Fault Zone is one of the longest, and some faults had already moved, like the one in Central Luzon in 1990 and the one in Masbate in 2003," he said. (gmanews.com 10.26.06)



USGS Map showing earthquake density.



(Markers that show epicenter of recent earthquakes)

Marinduque as 'world class' destination

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Marinduque Airport Badly Rocks

Wow Bellarocca rocks, Wow Marinduque rocks, but nay, its airport badly rocks!

MARINDUQUE AS ONE OF WORLD'S TOP ISLANDS

According to an article by Philstar’s Tanya T. Lara (“Bellarocca rocks”) , The West Australian’s John Borthwick travelled all over and chose top 10 islands in the world with Marinduque landing in the number two spot in a list that came out just last month.

Tanya also quoted CNN’s Tiffany Lam saying last year to travellers going for the “next-gen Asia tourist hotspot” to “forget Phuket”, as she pinpointed the island of Marinduque as Asia’s next major tourism destination. Tanya further said that Elle Canada was of the opinion that whereas Phuket may have been the great island destination to flock several years ago, Marinduque is the “now” island. But we've also heard that before.

MARINDUQUE'S RIVAL INVESTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS!

Marinduque’s rival in Asia according to Lam is Phu Quoc in Southern Vietnam that has beaches, diving spots and a distinct regional character. So the Vietnamese government is working furiously to flesh out the island’s tourist potential, licensing out infrastructural projects worth US$ 1.7 billion for the island, mostly for resorts along the coast. It is said that the island’s International Airport, worth US910 million is set to be completed in 2012.

But many travel and tourism orgs in Australia are still one in raving, singing about Marinduque!

THE CHARM OF BELLAROCCA, THE CALM OF MARINDUQUE

Of course, foreign correspondents talk about Marinduque with Bellarocca, the sole concession to luxe tourism, in mind. But what they experienced in Bellarocca is the same as what tourists experience in the rest of the island. “There is no Starbucks in this volcanic Philippine island - life in Marinduque calls for calmer pace. (Think white sand and sulfuric hot springs!)”, said one. And that’s Marinduque’s character.

“There are no sleek nightclubs, bars or tacky souvenir shops”, yet another one again declares: “Beware the next Phuket!”

So now, people outside the Philippines are convinced and telling themselves, in no uncertain terms, that Marinduque’s got everything it would take to be THE DESTINATION, THE TOURISM PRODUCT of the NOW. Come to think of it, we, Marinduquenos, are not exactly the last to know that we’re a warm and peace-loving people (except during elections that just break that spell), with a rich culture and unique historical heritage that in itself sells.

Our towns exude reminiscences of a bygone era, the very same thing that lures tourists to Vigan. Caves, waterfalls, white sand beaches and other shores in various shades and character abound; sulfur spring, hot spring, almost everything.

SO IS MARINDUQUE READY FOR TAKE-OFF?

Not quite. But why doesn’t Marinduque tourism really take off and FLY? Truth is, even with its closeness to Metro Manila we are NOT THAT ACCESSIBLE anymore. Tourists are tempted to choose other destinations instead of spending 10 hours of land-and-sea travel to Marinduque. Many airlines wanted to fly to this paradise of an island, but simply couldn’t because of a forlorn and dilapidated airport runway.

The travel media was ecstatic upon learning that up to last year, two domestic airlines have connected the island to Manila, but are hardly aware of the bigger picture. Only one airline's left now.

THE AIRPORT IN RETROSPECT

To think that way back in the early 60’s, all domestic airlines plied to Marinduque: Air Manila, Fairways, Philippine Airlines. There was even a time when PAL flew in 12 times in a week!

Long before the world ever heard of the Ati-atihan, Sinulog, Dinagyang and other festivals, there was, already, talk about the Moriones, and tourists came, such that the business community started building small resorts - there was real need to even encourage homestay programs to accommodate visitors in the absence of enough places to stay.

Air transport was very much instrumental in providing the needed boost during the initial stage of the innovative million-peso trading of pupae and butterfly with buyers meeting their suppliers at the airport. The current state of the airport is not helping this industry now. Air transport was also the preferred means to ship carved softwood products in the 80’s, and naturally, the fastest means to transport the sick needing medical intervention, in cases, and there were many, where the main public hospital was unable to help.

AIRPORT WAS CLOSED DOWN

When PAL stopped servicing Marinduque in 1998, the airport was closed down, but re-opened for a couple of years when Asian Spirit plied the Marinduque route. Then the roar of airplanes were not heard of again until some five years later, in 2008. By then, Bellarocca was starting to ecstatically rock the environs.

SO HOW'S THE AIRPORT NOW?

The Marinduque airport is classified as Principal Class 2 - that means airports used for prop aircraft which has equal to or more than 19-seat capacity. (Principal Class 1 is for jet aircraft which has equal to or more than 100-seats capacity).

The length of its runway is 1400m, enough to improve management of the airport system and enhance civil aviation safety. 770m of the runway was cemented in the late 90’s, but that’s 200m short of the minimum runway requirement for aircraft which is 900m. You might say therefore that the Marinduque airport is suited to the more daring of aircrafts or pilots.



This means 770m of concrete runway exists on one side close to the beach, nearly 200m on the opposite side near a rice-field was merely covered with asphalt that, in fact there’s a lengthy 630m altogether of runway that's simply rundown, with potholes, crushed rocks and compacted soil almost without any trace of the asphalt that glued them together decades and decades ago. That’s the real danger, the shaky, risky, rocky part.

CONCRETING OF RAMP AND TAXIWAY ONGOING, BUT...

Yes, something’s going on now. Concreting of the apron and taxiway costing P 20-million from the GAA 2009 budget is in progress. Apron or ramp is where the aircraft parks to load or unload passengers and cargoes. This intervention certainly improves the airport but does not solve the major, major runway problem that would attract other airlines. One that would make Bellarocca happier, eventually open the eyes of Marinduquenos for the new opportunities that increased tourist influx would bring.

Major airlines like Cebu Pacific, Seair, Air Philippines, all bullish to fly here, had variously sent their personnel to conduct technical inspection. But even Zestair that currently flies four times a week only could not increase flight frequency lest its aircraft's wheels would suffer from physical damage more frequently and seriously.

Seair that used to fly three times a week using LET410 aircrafts, but had to be suspended for major aircraft systems safety modifications, was willing to continue flying to Marinduque with their Dornier 328, but could not land those aircrafts under the present condition of the runway.

SOME INTROSPECTION PLEASE

In 2008, the provincial government approached Malacanang for the repair of the runway, got the nod of CAAP-DOTC, and when nothing happened reiterated the same request to Veep Noli De Castro in 2009, when he, as then Cabinet Officer for Regional Development of Mimaropa, visited the province. The municipal government of Gasan where the airport sits, made a similar request through a resolution to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) specifying the same concern. I was advised that even the socio-civic org, the Marinduque First Saturday Club, Inc. spearheaded by Gen. Recaredo Sarmiento II (Ret.) lobbied seriously, and independently, with the DOTC for the same reason.

The project that has been in the pipeline for long just remained a pipedream. There were reports that other political voices blatantly played around in the main halls of power with some kind of discordant overtures.

Congressman Velasco recently held talks with DOTC top brass for inclusion of Marinduque in the 2011 DOTC priority airport project for the much-needed concreting of the rest of the runway. There’s P35M for 2011 with the CAAP per then ADG Aida Dizon - hardly enough even for resurfacing of the asphalt section of the runway. Resorting to plain resurfacing of the area, not concreting the runway, would require at least P60M according to a DOTC source and it would be rundown in just five years. Reduced to just compacted rocks and soil, as it looks today, according to an airport source.

"MATUWID NA DAAN"

P150M, the estimate of how much it would cost to rehabilitate the airport system is what it would also normally cost to build a 15km highway. Wouldn’t it be so worth it, then, for the administration of President Aquino to invest that much for the airport rehabilitation of Philippine's “next-gen Asia tourist hotspot”? The “now” island, second on the list of the world’s most beautiful islands?

The island that remained very poor and very peaceful even with the rape of its natural treasures by one of the world’s biggest mining concerns? The mining industry that benefitted the country’s coffers, not this island’s nor her poor people, continuously exploited up to the present day?

Wouldn’t that be a just and meaningful application of President Noynoy's “matuwid na daan” ideation? That Marinduquenos will sing in unison: "at last!"

Just look again at how much the rivals are spending in billions of U.S. dollars. That quoted amount is much less than the annual 20% development fund of the province which hardly makes a dent in our humdrum lives.

Is P. 150M so big for Marinduquenos to pray for when other provinces have been the recipients of billions of pesos in development funds? Give us, Marinduquenos, a break we implore! The DOTC 2011 budget for airport and port rehab is P 1.065-B!

Then Marinduque tourism would fly and soar, the rest of the world would be pleased, and pay more serious attention to Philippine tourism zooming in on Marinduque, where the heart, really is!

Lonely Planet Issue No. 4 Now Available

MARINDUQUE also stars in the Lonely Planet Magazine Issue No. 4.

NOW AT YOUR FAVORITE MAG STANDS!!!

Featuring "Marinduque: A Journey to the Heart of the Philippines" Article by Dan Pagulayan, with Eli Obligacion; Photos by Dan Pagulayan, with contributions by Gerry Jamilla.

You may get your copies at: Fully Booked, Filbars, Book Sale

Lonely Planet: Marinduque

Tweet-tweet from hobbyist photographer Dan Pagulayan:

Prints are out!

Lonely Planet Magazine Philippines features Marinduque in this month's issue as prelude to the observance of Holy Week in this island-province and your

"JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THE PHILIPPINES"

Lonely Planet Magazine Philippines is published by Bella Luce Publications.
(photo above shows the Marinduque opener by Dan Pagulayan)

Marinduque Fun Run

Mens sana in corpore sano, a sound mind in a sound body.

To promote this Latin quote from the Roman poet Juvenal, a Fun Run spearheaded by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Marinduque Chapter and the Rotary Club of Marinduque North was held last February 26 in Boac.

The said friendly race that attracted hundreds of fun-runners from all ages started at 5:30 am from the Boac Covered Court, covering the provincial capitol grounds and back. It was evident that the participants took part more for their personal enjoyment rather than for the competition.

Dubbed "Marinduque Run for a Cause 2011", cash prizes and medals were awarded to 3K winners, while 1K winners received medals. Congressman Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco led the participants that included students from local high schools and colleges, the business community, the local police, private orgs such as Marinduque Copper Queen, Inc., Marinduque Flying Squad Riders and sports enhusiasts of all ages.





Young girl took the happy occasion to deliver her personal message loud and clear.







Congressman Velasco, promoter of adventure sports in Marinduque, takes time out to sweat it out and enjoy the early morning run.







...and as the Marinduque sun rises in the background.






Members of the Marinduque Flying Squad Riders leads the fun-runners.





Young 1K finisher poses with the Congressman.

Marinduque's Laban and Ako si Edsa

(Joseph Israel Laban, extreme right, with President Noynoy and GMA's Jessica Soho).

He was part of the original cast of "Mara Unduk", Teatro Balangaw's premiere presentation in December of 1992. Joseph Israel Laban of Marinduque National High School Class of 1997 and UP Class of 2001, went on to become a managing producer of GMA news and public affairs programs.

Joseph is back in the Philippines after further studies at New York University (NYU), under a Fulbright Scholarship Program, that educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Fulbright scholars are chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential to engage in further studies, teachings,conduct research and contribute to finding solutions to shared concerns.

Laban's achievements to-date include a Gold World Medal for Best Human Interest Story by the 2008 New York Festivals for Television for the documentary "Batang Kalakal" and a Silver Screen Award at the 2008 US International Film and Video Festival.

(Laban with the acclaimed Filipino broadcast journalist, Cheche Lazaro)

As part of GMA programs "The Probe Team" and "Reporter's Notebook", one of his early works as writer, managing producer and director was an investigation into "ghost projects" in Marinduque some years ago.

His latest work, "Ako si Edsa" for the new GMA News TV program Front Row was shown during said program's initial presentation last Saturday, March 5 at 10:00 pm.



(Laban in Riyadh)

Marinduque historical conference

(contd)

There is no doubt that in the matter of tourism marketing, cultural identity sells. Awareness of one’s culture could then stimulate pride among a people, in the process even instil a desire and commitment to preserve and protect that culture, isn’t that so?

Paving the way for the promotion of a higher level of awareness on Marinduque’s historical and cultural heritage was the idea for the holding of a ‘national conference’ on Marinduque. The proposal to hold such a conference was hatched during a history seminar I attended in Vigan in November 2007. Commitments to provide technical support and top level participation from the NHI, the National Museum, NCCA, and the Philippine National Historical Society, all represented in the Vigan conference, were conveyed to me right then and there.

So it was just a matter of finding a local venue, date and sending formal invitations for the proposed Marinduque conference. The municipal government of Mogpog under Mayor Senen Livelo, a 'culture-vulture', was only too eager to host and hold the two-day event at the Mogpog Central School.

SOME OVERTURES

Confirmations were obtained from the high calibre lecturers. But I also got a phone call from one who informed me that no action was being undertaken by his boss on the provincial government’s invitation because “somebody called...”, and that he was so flabbergasted, but deciding that he would participate in the conference anyway, even as he would not be allowed to go on official travel. He said, “how could some people be so against holding such a Marinduque historical conference? I am volunteering to come!”

Such overtures are not uncommon in Marinduque. I have, since 1992, when I started doing my bit as a community theatre organizer have my own similar encounters and bouts. “I was a political activist once, and could not tolerate this sort of thing... to think that this is just about history”, that sympathetic man confided to me later on when he finally arrived. I felt so humbled, but so ineffective before him in expressing how much I appreciated his gesture.

The Mogpog Central School conference hall was packed with teachers, students, government workers, and local historians. That seminar-workshop undoubtedly would go a long way not only in strengthening the Marinduqueno’s identity but, I guess, in the pursuit of that common vision for this poor province.

(The lecturers shown here with now Congressman Lord Allan Jay Velasco)

The National Conference on Marinduque, an offshoot of the Oral and Local History Conference held in Vigan, had as lecturers Dr. Augusto de Viana, Phd, Chief, Research Division of the National Historical Institute; Dr. Emmanuel Calairo, PhD., Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, De la Salle University; Joseph Garcia and Eduardo Conese, Underwater Archaeologists and Researches, Archaeology Division, National Museum, and local historical researches Patrick Henry Manguera and Myke Magalang. The success of the Marinduque conference inspired the NHI to consider holding the following year’s Oral and Local History Conference here in conjunction with the Battle of Pulang Lupa celebration. This, however, had to be held elsewhere for some reason.
The attempt was all worth it to also stimulate the study of Marinduque society and in the process understand, eventually solve some social dilemma that continue to beset us. Guess who would go against that, if any.



("We all may acquire and comprehend the world around us as our experience of physical objects, but it would be a mistake to limit ourselves to the conventional thoughts indentured by our stubbornness towards change." - Swapnil Srivastava on an interpretation of the Allegory of the Cave)