The Issue of Illegal Mining in the Philippines

Illegal Mining is one of the environmental issues in the Philippines. Historically, mining has been known in the Philippines as early as 1521. It was common belief that before the arrival of foreign invaders, native Filipinos have been panning gold and other mineral deposited in many parts of the country. Until now mining industries continue their work to get more gold in many parts of the Philippines.

Mining have negative and irreversible effects because of the industrialization that destroyed our environment through illegal mining. It is one of the major and easily identified as an offenders of the ecological balance of the earth, there is a studies reveal that mining is not good. Many mining areas in the Philippines show the impact of negative effect of mining in polluted bodies of water such as rivers, mine dumps and waste areas like in Palawan.

By virtue of Republic Act 7942, known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, a new perspective on mining system in the Philippines eventually emerged, to govern the exploration, development, utilization and processing of all mineral resources and also protects the environment. Chapter XI, section 63, of the Republic Act 7942, states that all contractors and permits shall strictly comply with all mines safety rules and regulations by the safe sanitary of the mining operations and achieve waste free and efficient. All this acts was make because bad impact that also result devastation of landscape and caused serious damage such as landslide, heavily contaminates and pollutes bodies of water.

All of that can defined the true meaning of illegal mining that until now, we experiencing the effects and impact because of the greediness of other mining companies and it can creates problems in our country that results destroying our nature and cause even death. It is a challenge to us and our countries how we will protects and care our environment from illegal mining that mining must be considered as a hazardous industry. This calls for even greater efforts on the parts of the government and industry to improve the situation including technology and regulation in our country.