On the third year anniversary of their barricade against Altai Philippines Mining Corporation (APMC), residents of Sibuyan Island, Romblon demanded that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) immediately act on their petition for the cancellation of the company’s mining contract.

Elizabeth Ibañez, Coordinator of Sibuyanons Against Mining (SAM), said, “It’s nearly one year since we filed our petition, but there has been absolutely no word from the DENR – not even a communication acknowledging they received our petition.”

Ibañez said the commemoration of the barricade’s anniversary signifies the communities’ firm conviction and commitment to stop the mining operations in Sibuyan. “We will continue to resist in the barricades and elsewhere until Altai Mining is permanently booted out of our island.”

On January 24, 2023, the residents established the barricade to prevent Altai Mining from transporting nickel ore. They asserted that the mining firm’s operations were illegal as it lacked the required permits for mining the area. As a result, the DENR issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) against the company.

Two years later, on March 4, 2025, concerned community leaders filed a petition before the DENR to cancel Altai Mining’s Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA).

Rodne Galicha, Executive Director of Living Laudato Si, “We cannot understand why the DENR has refused to act on our petition. It was their office that issued a CDO, upon their own findings that Altai Mining has violated several laws due to the construction of structures that have no Environmental Compliance Certificate, the lack of foreshore lease agreement, and for cutting or clearing of trees without permit.”

Galicha said the inaction by the DENR is reflective of the PBBM administration’s low priority to environmental protection and the plight of mining-affected communities. “Despite the violative and illegal activities of mining companies, President Marcos, Jr. has consistently chosen to uphold large-scale mining operations over the welfare of the people and environment.”

Meanwhile, Jaybee Garganera, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) National Coordinator, said “the Sibuyan experience strongly indicates that ‘responsible mining’ is but an empty rhetoric. There is virtually no political will to make erring firms’ accountable. In short, environmental destruction and human rights violations in mining communities are deemed acceptable by this government.”

#AlyansaTigilMina #ATM #IpamanaHuwagIpamina #SibuyanIsland

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