Mining sediment threatens marine life in Surigao del Sur

DAVAO CITY – Environmental group Haribon Foundation expressed concern over the threats to the marine life caused by the runoff sediment from mining sites in Surigao del Sur.

On the second day of the four-day “Partners’ Forum: People and the Sea” at the Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases on Tuesday, Gregorio E. de la Rosa Jr., conservation science and research manager at the Haribon Foundation, said in an interview that the sediment from the mining sites are washed away during heavy downpour, ending up in the shores and protected mangrove sites in Lanuza Bay.

If not abated, Dela Rosa said the contamination will destroy the marine habitats such as coral reefs and sea grass adversely affecting the spawning grounds of fish in Surigao del Sur and other provinces.

He said it would also severely affect the catch of local fishermen because fish in the area will lose their spawning grounds.

He said the shores have become virtually “red” as several portions of have already been covered in hip-deep mud.

Dela Rosa said they were coordinating with local government units to craft and enforce existing policies, such as those stated under the Lanuza Bay Environmental Management Plan to mitigate the threats posed the environmental concerns related to the sedimentation.

He said mining operations in Carrascal Municipality in Surigao del Sur as one of the sources of contamination, and claimed other mining operations in the nearby province of Surigao del Norte could also be affecting the marine habitat in their province.

Dela Rosa underscored that the problem involving the runoff wastes could have been prevented had the requirement of setting up settling ponds to trap the sediment from mining sites been strictly enforced and strengthened.

He said settling ponds would overflow during heavy downpour, spilling most of the sediment out to the sea.

He emphasized the need to strictly enforce the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, National Integrated Protected Areas System, and Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protect Act as well as local legislations like the land use plan to mitigate the effects of brought about by mining operations.

Dela Rosa said the people claimed their seas and shores were clean and not covered in mud before the mining operations started in 2010.

The mangrove forests, which are supposed to protect the coral reefs from the runoff sediment, have been obliterated to give way to the construction of docking facilities for sea vessels, he said.