their approved Social Development and Management Programs
(SDMP). Further, as of 2015, MGB claimed that 25.96 Billion
seedlings were planted by 99 mining companies in more than 23,
927.56 hectares of mined-out and other areas upholding the idea
of adequate protection of the environment, before, during mining
operations and beyond the life of the mine.
III.
RESEARCH ANALYSIS
a.
Mining in Benguet and its Effects in the Environment
and to the Community
i.
Status of the Environment and the Community in
Benguet
Padcal Mine is the first underground block cave operation in
the Far East. It produces copper concentrates containing copper,
gold, and silver (“Padcal,” (n.d.) para. 1 ). It is located in two
municipalities in Benguet – Tuba and Itogon – with total land area
of 13, 228 hectares. However, only 580 hectares or 5% of the
total land area are developed/affected for mining operations
including the mine itself, mill, tailings facilities, residential and
other industrial areas. Mineral Production Sharing Agreements
(MPSA) cover the property’s 7, 967 hectares, while Exploration
Permit Applications (EXPA) cover 5, 261 hectares. This covers
three (3) major areas of exploration: Bumolo, Sto.Tomas II and
Clifton. The discovery of Sto. Tomas II orebody extended the life of
the mine from 2020 to 2022 as declared on October 28, 2015,
due to an additional 20 Million tonnes declared proved reserves
(Philex Mining Corp., 2015).
Itogon is the largest municipality, in terms of land area, in
Benguet. It is known to be a mining town, being the site of large-
scale mining operations in the country. The first mining firm in the
Philippines was established in the town under the name,
Benguet
Consolidated Mining Company
(BCMC), by Americans Nelson
Peterson and Harry Clyde which opened in 1903. Ironically, its
second source of livelihood is agriculture like almost any other
municipalities in Benguet. Its third source of livelihood is tourism
exhibiting the Binga Dam, open pit mines, hot springs, and
mummies. According to the 2015 Census, it has a population of
59, 820 people (“Itogon, Benguet”, n.d.).
Tuba is known to be the
Gateway to Baguio
as the three
major highways that give access to the adjacent city of
Baguio
are largely traversed in the municipality. According to the 2015
Census, it has a population of 47, 648 people. Major contributor to
its economy is also mining. However, a few abandoned mining
sites such as those of Benguet Exploration Mine and Black
Mountain, Inc. have been left unattended for years, which pose a
threat to the local population and the environment. Agriculture
and tourism are also subsidiary contributors to its economy with
the presence of waterfalls, hot springs, caves and high peaks of
mountains in its land area. (“Tuba, Benguet”, n.d.)
Benguet State University stated that less than 50 percent of
Benguet’s original forest cover remains as based on the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
statistics. Benguet has a total land forest area of 214,523
hectares and only 100,977 hectares are the remaining forest. In
water quality, Bued River, was currently classified by the DENR as
a water quality management area and more rivers in the area are
