Responsible Mining

Racquel Badecao

    Responsible mining refers to advocacy to reform mining activity. Goals may vary by group.It first began to appear in an article entitled "Re-inhibitory Mining" and next as "Ecological Mining”. The term "Responsible Mining" was formulated by Ranil Senanayake of the International Analog Forest Network and Brian Hill of the Institute for Cultural Ecology.

   

Our municipality is rich in natural minerals like gold. Mining is one of the main resources of income in Mankayan.But why do some of our "kaelians"  go against mining? Some insist that it causes water shortage in the community. Well, yes! But we should think positive. Mining has contributed in the development of our community and practically speaking, it is the source of our income. For several years, people from every barangay like Bulalacao and neighboring municipality of Mankayan such as Cervantes, Ilocus Sur has benifitted  from the Lepanto Mining Company. The company have been returning 1% of its milling and mining cost to its host communities since the beggining of its operation. And to be specific, it offers scholarships to deserving students. In other words, the  said mining company exercises responsible mining.

Mining has both positive and negative effects.And as a member of a mining community and as a student, I am thankful to LCMC and its new partner Gold Fields because I have the oppurtunity to make my future brighter.