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Opposition mounts against the Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s proposed mineral reservation in Antique
ILOILO CITY, Philippines – A government proposal to declare over 3,700 hectares in Antique as a mineral reservation has drawn strong opposition from religious and civil society groups, who are pushing for a 50-year moratorium on mining across the province.
On Wednesday, May 28, the Amlig Antique Alliance – a coalition of religious leaders, environmental advocates, and civil society organizations – filed a petition before the provincial board, seeking to block the Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s (MGB) plan and impose a long-term ban on mining activities.
The proposed mineral reservation covers upland areas in the towns of Patnongon, San Remigio, Valderrama and Sibalom – a designation seen by critics as a precursor to large-scale extractive operations.
The petition was led by Bishop Marvyn Maceda of the local Roman Catholic Diocese and Bishop Leon Estrella of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, along with 40 other sectoral leaders, most of them from religious groups. The signatories endorsed the petition on April 30.
The alliance is calling for an outright ban on mining permits and agreements, and a formal rejection of the mineral reservation proposal.
They emphasized that Antique’s mountains serve as vital ecosystems that sustain water sources, biodiversity and communities. However, 20 pending mining applications now threaten more than 53,000 hectares across the province.
Data from the MGB show that Antique is rich in copper, gold, silver and chromite deposits.
The alliance pointed out that Antique’s mountainous terrain is already a high-risk area due to steep slopes and fragile geological features. They cited the severe damage caused by Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) in 2008 and Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (Nalgae) in 2022 as evidence of the province’s vulnerability.
“Mining activities would further weaken the land structure, accelerating soil loss and sedimentation in rivers. This not only heightens flood risks for low-lying communities but also degrades critical watersheds that regulate water flow,” the petition read.
In 2008, Typhoon Frank left over P7.2 million in damage to property and infrastructure. The province was also among the hardest hit by Paeng in October 2022, which destroyed five bridges and damaged a key road network connecting the northern and southern parts of the province.
A detailed landslide and flood susceptibility map from the MGB showed that most towns in Antique are identified as flood-prone areas.
The alliance also urged the newly appointed chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), a native of Sibalom, to reject the mineral reservation proposal.
Provincial board member Karmila Dimamay, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s committee on environment, said the petition will be heard at the panel level by June.
However, discussions at the plenary remain on hold, as the provincial board currently lacks a quorum following the suspension of eight of its members by the Office of the Ombudsman last March.
The officials were suspended for one year without pay over multiple administrative offenses, including grave abuse of authority and misconduct. The officials were cited for gross neglect of duty after failing to act on a key provincial budget proposal for public welfare projects, prompting formal complaints. – Rappler.com
