Digging Deep: The Complex Impact of Quarrying in the Philippines

Digging Deep: The Complex Impact of Quarrying in the Philippines

Photo by the Philippine Examiner

 

Quarrying, also called open pit mining, is the process of extracting natural materials including sand and gravel, stones, and minerals from the earth. The quarrying industry has experienced extraordinary growth in the Philippines because of increasing demand for construction materials to power infrastructure-related projects throughout the country. From road-building to high-rise housing developments, quarrying supplies necessary resources. However, unregulated and excessive quarrying holds great environmental risks, which is especially a problem in the Philippines, one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.

The History of Quarrying in the Philippines and Related Regulations

Quarrying in the Philippines has a history dating back to the Spanish colonial period. As early as the 16th century, materials such as limestone and adobe were mined to build structures and churches. The transition of the country into the modern era is very intense with activities on quarrying driven by the demand for residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Quarrying accelerated the demand after World War II and expanded into mountainous and rural areas by the late 20th century.

Despite the economic value of quarrying, the Filipino people and government recognized its environmental implications and established regulations to ensure sustainable extraction. The Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7942) is the generalist law in the country that governs mining and quarrying, provides direction to regulate the operations, decrease the negative impacts, and establish safety protocols. Additionally, the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160), whereby Local Government Units (LGUs) have the authority to administer small-scale quarrying activities within the confines of their jurisdiction. This decentralization approach would look toward enabling local governments to adapt regulations according to their specific ecological needs.

However, local and national implementation has been inconsistent. Executive Order No. 79 issued in 2012 tightened up environmental assessments and held a halt on new permits in sensitive ecological areas. But weaker economic pressures on less able agencies, constraining forces of resource limitations, and at times conflicting political interests between local and national agencies, make implementation and enforcement another story. There exists an immense need for standardized regulation applied to both small and large quarrying across the country, with heightened emphasis in sensitive regions.

The Environmental Impact of Quarrying in the Philippines

Quarrying has become an issue in the Philippines recently, especially with the country experiencing intensified typhoons and floods in recent years. In November 2020, Typhoon Ulysses caused destruction in the Luzon region, with many citizens and organizations blaming the flooding, particularly in Marikina City, on quarrying operations. Subsequent environmental assessments showed that over-extraction of sand and gravel along the Marikina River had weakened its river banks, causing it to overflow, leading to severe flooding. Similar concerns have been raised in the Bicol Region and Cebu as quarrying is abundant in these places, and communities suffer not only increased risks of flooding but also landslides.

This problem forces the local communities to call for action from the government. In 2020, due to the issue, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources temporarily closed several quarrying operations in vulnerable areas. The probes conducted after the suspension were wide, indicating a number of concerns, including improper permits, a failure to adhere to environmental standards, and failure to provide rehabilitation efforts as required. Although some of the operations have since been resumed following the stricter guidelines imposed on them, many environmental groups claim these are not enough, and oversight should be more intensified.

The increased frequency of typhoons and flooding in the Philippines has led to bringing to the foreground environmental destruction by rampant quarrying. Albay received the spotlight when Typhoon Rolly hit the area in 2020, focusing on the dangers of quarrying near Mount Mayon: unstable slopes and clear-cut cover allowed destructive flooding and landslides to occur there. The loss of lives, displaced communities, and ravaged farmlands were widely reported and the inadequacy of rehabilitation at the quarry site worsened the disaster.

In Cavite, seabed quarrying for reclamation projects has broken up marine ecosystems and left coastal communities more vulnerable to flooding and storm surges. Fishing communities have fretted over dwindling fish stocks and threatened livelihoods as they called for an end to the operations.

Meanwhile, over-extraction of resources along the Marikina River has weakened its banks, placing it at higher risk for flooding in case of heavy rains. Many of the quarries that the government temporarily suspended some of in 2020 are already back in full swing, accused critics of weak oversight and insufficient rehabilitation efforts. Various environmental groups such as Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment state that the “government may have raised urgency to respond to climate change, but the damages are never mitigated.” Without meaningful reform and implementation of existing environmental laws, communities will remain exposed to the compounded effects of natural disasters and environmental neglect.

In a country that experiences an average of 20 typhoons each year, the effects of quarrying become more pronounced during extreme weather events. Quarrying removes the natural landscape features that serve as protective barriers against typhoons. Exposed soil and loose rocks in quarry sites are highly susceptible to being carried away by strong winds and rain, leading to landslides and severe soil erosion. During Typhoon Ulysses and Kristine, for example, communities near quarry sites faced catastrophic damage from both landslides and flash floods, prompting calls for stricter regulation of quarrying activities.

The Perilous Fight of Environmental Defenders in the Philippines

The Philippines continues to be among the deadliest places for environmental activists, with constant violence and repression against those who defend nature. A 2023 Rappler report ranked the country as the deadliest in Asia for environmental defenders for the 11th year in a row, a horrific reality promoted by the government through policies that favor profit over human life. Environmental activists are harassed, abducted, and murdered as they oppose extractive industries that ravage ecosystems and communities.

One disturbing case is that of the abduction of Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro, young environmental activists who have been advocating for the protection of fishing communities in Manila Bay. This case narrates an abduction allegedly carried out by state forces due to their activism; it evokes public outcry and shows the risks to those standing against government-backed development projects. This case presents the culture of impunity that threatens environmental defenders by using violence and intimidations to silence dissent.

The Tampakan mining project epitomizes the government's preference for corporate interests over human rights. This has led to militarization, displacement of indigenous peoples, and violent repression of critics in the face of strong opposition. Similarly, Sibuyan Island mining operations threaten biodiversity and livelihoods as local communities are subjected to hostility for resisting the mines, just as the IBON Foundation and YACAP point out these struggles highlight that it is the people that the state prefers to sacrifice for resource extraction.

With natural wealth under constant threat from exploitative industries, the environmental defenders bear the brunt of the battle for sustainability. The profitability of development over profit displaces human rights, meanwhile exposing this nation to ecological danger. It is time to break this cycle, with systemic reforms by raising priorities: people, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability- not corporate greed or short-term profits.

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