An aerial view of allegedly illegal mining operations on Sibuyan Island, taken on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (Photo by GERARDO RIBON from the Sibuyan Island Facebook page)
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro— The Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines Inc. (MFPI) has expressed strong opposition to a bid to introduce mining activities within the protected landscape of Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park in Sibuyan Island, Romblon, warning that the project could threaten one of the country’s most important biodiversity hotspots.
In a statement, the federation raised alarm over the reported mining activities of Altai Philippines Mining Corporation within the protected area, calling on authorities to immediately investigate its prospective operations there and to strictly enforce environmental and protected area laws.
Altai has not responded to the latest protests. But based on an environmental impact assessment posted in a website of the Environmental Management Bureau, the MFPI may be referring to the proposed development of a nickle mine spanning 1,500 hectares at Romblon’s San Fernando municipality.
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