Mining in Palawan is a Crime Against Nature and the Law
Because no rigorous study has yet shown that Palawan’s fragile island ecosystems can withstand large-scale mining, we invoke the precautionary principle: protect the island’s resources through conservation and genuinely sustainable management until sound science proves otherwise.
Mt. Bulanjao. “When it rains, that river turns red.” - Balyan | "Kapag umuulan, mapula ang ilog na yan."
A Story from Mt. Bulanjao
At the invitation of the Palaʼwan Indigenous community, we trekked up Mt. Bulanjao. Before setting out, the balyan (shaman) held a prayer and sagda ritual, asking the mountain’s spirits to keep us safe before we proceed to document the mining scars spreading across their ancestral forest.
Halfway up the ridge, we noticed ribbons on sticks with written codes on them. No one in the tribe placed them there; the elders suspect the tags mark future cutlines for Rio Tuba Nickel (RTN) or a DENR survey team. The ribbons hang inside the community’s sacred zone, an area that falls squarely within an ECAN Maximum Protection Zone where mining and tree cutting are absolutely prohibited under Section 9 of the Strategic Environmental Plan (RA 7611).
We finished our survey and descended before nightfall. By morning the next day, word spread that armed guards were now patrolling the very trail we had walked—an intimidation tactic all too familiar to forest defenders.
Mining poses an immediate threat to Palawan’s unique biodiversity, communities, and future generations. Fortunately, the law provides strong safeguards:
- Section 19 of the Mining Act (RA 7942) explicitly prohibits mining operations in old-growth forests, virgin forests, watershed reserves, wilderness areas, mangroves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries. Many planned mining projects in Palawan clearly violate this law.
- Section 9 of the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan (RA 7611) mandates the establishment of an Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) zoning system, ensuring protection for our forests, watersheds, and biodiversity. Under ECAN, mining cannot proceed without explicit clearance from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).
Questions:
- Why is it that RTN was able to expand its operation in Mt. Bulanjao, a mountain found to be a High Conservation Value based on a study conducted by the Center for Conservation Innovations (CCI), Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) itself, and Conservation International?
- RTN was also issued a 52,000 special tree-cutting permit. Why?
Why have the very agencies tasked with protection—PCSD and DENR—failed to verify the presence and clearly delineate the exact boundaries of these old-growth and other natural forests before any expansion was allowed?
Summary of documented / reported mining-related violations in Palawan:
1. Illegal Forest Clearing in Protected Areas
- Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape: In 2017, Ipilan Nickel Corp (INC) and Celestial Mining illegally cleared about 20 hectares, uprooting ~7,000 trees before a DENR stoppage order—violating protection under NIPAS and Section 19 of the Mining Act abs-cbn.com, mongabay.com, newmandala.org.
- Sofronio Española: Since November 2020, locals and Indigenous Pala’wan have reported unauthorized tree-felling within Pyramid Hill’s limestone-mining concession—potentially a precursor to mining expansion mongabay.com.
2. Invalid Environmental & Indigenous Permits
- Lost ECC and Indigenous Consent: The 2017 Mt. Mantalingahan clearing occurred despite INC lacking a valid ECC and without a Certificate of Precondition (required by IPRA)—leading to a Supreme Court Writ of Kalikasan and NCIP cease-and-desist conservation.org .mongabay.com newmandala.org .
- MacrolAsia & INC FPIC Flaws: Amnesty reported forced inclusion of “fake” IP leaders, blurred maps, and exclusion of dissenting Pala’wan during consultations—indicating inadequate Free, Prior, Informed Consent in Brooke’s Point news.mongabay.com amnesty.org newmandala.org+3.
Palawan was declared by UNESCO as Man and Biosphere Reserve, and dubbed as the Philippines' The Last Ecological Frontier, and yet...
3. Water Contamination & Health Hazards
- Brooke’s Point: Locals observed freshwater turning visibly “reddish-brown,” declining crop yields, and elevated respiratory and skin ailments—directly linked to nickel mining runoff youtube.com .mongabay.com amnesty.org .
4. Community Protest & Forced Opposition
- February 2023 Human Barricades:
- Brooke’s Point: Inc’s port trucks faced resident barricades. Police cleared the blockades, causing injuries rtd.rt.com en.wikipedia.org.
- Red‑tagging & Threats: Environmental defenders, including those in Palawan, have been harassed, red‑tagged, and threatened, with some facing military-backed smear campaigns under the guise of anti-terror charges ges.rgo.ru globalwitness.org en.wikipedia.org .
5. Government Inaction & Loopholes
- Moratorium Gaps: Despite a 50-year moratorium passed by Palawan’s Provincial Government, mining companies active pursuit to operate had been reported by communities (Berong Nickel Corporation and Redmont) icmagazine.org newsinfo.inquirer.net youtube.com.
- DENR & MGB Indifference: Time and again, residents demanded DENR/MGB enforcement; meanwhile, cease-and-desist notices and legal orders were ignored or overturned news.mongabay.com.
Communities across Palawan have the legal right—and responsibility—to challenge any mining activities that violate these provisions. We urge everyone, from local residents to officials, to uphold these laws and protect Palawan's natural heritage for generations to come.
How to Counter Mining Violations
Community Guide: Protecting Your Rights under ECAN (Section 9, SEP Palawan)
Your community has the right to challenge mining and other harmful projects under Section 9 of the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan (RA 7611), through the Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN). ECAN zones protect forests, watersheds, biodiversity, and Indigenous lands from inappropriate development.
Step 1: Know Your Rights
- Maximum Protection Zones: No mining, logging, or harmful activities allowed.
- Restricted and Controlled Use Zones: Activities strictly regulated and require explicit clearance from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).
Step 2: Document Your Concerns
- Gather clear evidence (photos, maps, testimonies) of potential ECAN violations or negative impacts.
- Clearly state how the project violates ECAN zoning rules.
Step 3: Formally Submit Concerns to PCSD, DENR-PENRO, NCIP
- Write a formal letter detailing your concerns and evidence.
- Submit this to:
PCSD
Address: PCSD Building, Sports Complex Road, Barangay Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
Email: oed@pcsd.gov.ph
Tel Number: +63 48 434 4234
Facebook Page: (2) Facebook
Clearly request a formal review and public consultation.
DENR-PENRO
Address: Puerto Princesa City, Sta. Monica Penro Road, Palawan
Contact Number: 095345232332 | 063442323
Email Address: penropalawan@denr.gov.ph
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/denrpenro.palawan/
NCIP - Palawan
Address: Besides Barangay Hall, Barangay Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa, Philippines
Contact Number:
Email Address:
FB Page: Facebook
NCIP-Region IV-B
Address: 3rd Floor 574 Argo Bldg. EDSA cor. P. Tuazon Ave., Cubao, Quezon City
Tel Number: (02) 8575 1200 Local 0450 | 84039198
Email Address: region4b@ncip.gov.ph
Gabay sa Komunidad: Protektahan ang Inyong mga Karapatan sa ilalim ng ECAN (Section 9, SEP Palawan)
Ang inyong komunidad ay may karapatang tumutol sa pagmimina at iba pang mapanirang proyekto sa ilalim ng Section 9 ng Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan (RA 7611), sa pamamagitan ng Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN). Layunin ng ECAN na protektahan ang kagubatan, watershed, biodiversity, at mga lupain ng katutubo mula sa hindi nararapat na pag-unlad.
Hakbang 1: Alamin ang Inyong mga Karapatan
- Maximum Protection Zones: Bawal ang pagmimina, pagtotroso, o anumang mapaminsalang aktibidad.
- Restricted at Controlled Use Zones: Mahigpit na kontrolado ang mga aktibidad at kinakailangan ng malinaw na permiso mula sa Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).
Hakbang 2: Idokumento ang Inyong mga Alalahanin
- Kumuha ng malinaw na ebidensya (mga larawan, mapa, testimonya) ng posibleng paglabag sa ECAN o negatibong epekto.
- Ipaliwanag nang malinaw kung paano nilalabag ng proyekto ang mga alituntunin ng ECAN zoning.
Hakbang 3: Pormal na Isumite ang mga Alalahanin sa PCSD
- Magsulat ng pormal na liham na nagdedetalye ng inyong mga alalahanin at ebidensya.
- Isumite ito sa PCSD:
- Address: PCSD Building, Sports Complex Road, Barangay Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
- Email: oed@pcsd.gov.ph
- Malinaw na hilingin ang pormal na pagsusuri at konsultasyong pampubliko.
May kapangyarihan at responsibilidad kayong protektahan ang inyong komunidad at kapaligiran.
Tumindig. Kumilos. Ipagtanggol ang Palawan.
You have the power and responsibility to protect your community and environment.
Stand firm. Take action. Protect Palawan.
