Marinduque group seeks urgent rehab of Marcopper-hit sites

CALAPAN CITY, ORIENTAL MINDORO, Philippines — Nearly 30 years after the 1996 Marcopper mining disaster, residents in Marinduque are pressing for the immediate implementation of a $100-million (about P6.4-billion) settlement to rehabilitate affected areas.

The Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (Macec), in a statement on Monday, asked the provincial government to convene the Provincial Rehabilitation and Remediation Oversight Committee to start planning and implementing a comprehensive rehabilitation master plan for the province.

Rev. Fr. Arvin Anthony Madla, Macec chair, said the settlement must translate into concrete benefits for communities that have endured decades of environmental degradation and economic hardship.

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READ: Marinduque governor urged to fast-track $100M Marcopper settlement

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Madla identified the Maguila-guila and Makulapnit Dams, as well as the San Antonio Open Pit and Tapian Pit, among the endangered Marcopper mining structures that should be prioritized for assessment, rehabilitation and safety measures.

He said the condition of these structures requires urgent attention to prevent further environmental damage and protect communities from potential hazards.

“Thirty years is justice overdue. The community has already suffered enough and continues to experience a degraded ecosystem that poses great risks to the lives and well-being of the people of Marinduque,” the priest said.

He urged the provincial government to help remove obstacles to the settlement’s implementation rather than allow further delays in using the funds for their intended rehabilitation purposes.

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Concrete action

“What the people need now is concrete action to implement the settlement, not further obstacles that could delay the lawful use of the funds for their intended purpose of saving communities from serious environmental harm and further destruction,” Madla said.

Marinduque Gov. Melecio “Melo” Go on Tuesday asserted that it was not obstructing the rehabilitation settlement, saying the provincial government needs technical guidance from the the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to determine its role in the cleanup.

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In a phone interview, Go said the DENR should lead the rehabilitation efforts because the province lacks specialists in environmental cleanup. He said he had written to Environment Secretary Juan Miguel “Mitch” Cuna about a month ago to seek clarification on the province’s responsibilities.

Go also questioned the absence of a detailed implementation plan when the settlement was negotiated under the previous administration and Macec. He called Provincial Ordinance No. 250, passed on May 30, 2025, a “midnight ordinance,” saying the incoming administration was not consulted.

The March 1996 Marcopper mining disaster caused extensive environmental damage to waterways, agricultural lands and communities whose livelihoods depended on affected natural resources.

The $100-million settlement was reached after years of legal proceedings and negotiations between Barrick Gold Corp., which had acquired one of the companies that ran the Marcopper mine, and the provincial government. The Court of Appeals approved the agreement on Oct. 3, 2025, with payment scheduled in installments over three years.

Reports in October indicated that an initial payment of approximately $50.71 million had been deposited into a provincial trust fund account.

Macec’s appeal comes amid the need to clarify the respective roles of the companies involved in the mining operation and subsequent settlement.

Marcopper Mining Corp. was the Philippine company that operated the copper mines in Marinduque and was responsible for the mining operations associated with the environmental disasters, including the 1996 Boac River tailings spill.

Madla stressed that the funds must be administered transparently and under full accountability to ensure that affected communities benefit from the rehabilitation program.

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“We respect the legal processes. But we also hope that the remaining issues can be resolved without unnecessary delay. We urge the governor and all concerned parties to help remove obstacles to implementation rather than contribute to further delays,” he said. /cb