23/04/2026
Sa Paracale, Camarines Norte, marami talagang tutol sa open-pit mining kasi gold area yan pero ang dami nang landslides at mercury pollution issues dati. Kung gusto ng community pigilan, ito yung mga legal na galaw na effective:
Harangan sa LGU level - Pinaka-mabilis
Yung company kailangan ng LGU endorsement bago makakuha ng ECC sa DENR. Kung walang pirma si Mayor, SB, at Barangay Captains, stuck na sila.
Gawin nyo:
Barangay Resolutions - Magpasa lahat ng affected barangays ng resolution na "No to Open-Pit Mining". I-submit sa Mayor at SB.
People's Initiative - Under RA 7160, pwede mag-propose ng local ordinance banning open-pit mining. Kailangan 10% ng registered voters pipirma.
Public Hearing - Attendan lahat ng DENR/MGB public scoping. Doon nyo i-record yung opposition. Kapag majority tutol, malaking bawas sa "social acceptability" score nila.
Pressure kay Mayor - Rally, signature campaign, media. Pag election year, sensitive sila sa public opinion.
Harangan sa DENR/MGB level
Kahit gusto ni Mayor, kung hindi papasa sa DENR, wala pa rin.
Gawin nyo:
File formal opposition sa MGB Region V - Gumawa ng position paper bakit delikado: water source, fault line, near residential, etc. Attach signatures + photos.
Question the EIA/ECC - Ang Environmental Impact Assessment nila dapat i-publish. Hanapan ng butas: mali yung flood data, hindi na-consult lahat, underestimated ang waste. Pwede mag-request ng Writ of Kalikasan sa Court of Appeals kung may environmental damage.
Check kung may existing ban - Camarines Norte declared "Minahan ng Bayan" areas for small-scale lang. Verify kung sakop yung site nila. Bawal ang large-scale open-pit sa Minahang Bayan.
Legal & National level
NCIP - Kung may Indigenous People sa Paracale area, kailangan ng Free Prior Informed Consent. No FPIC = no permit.
Congress - Lapitan yung district representative. Pwede mag-file ng bill declaring Paracale as "mining-free zone" like ginawa sa ibang provinces.
DILG/Office of the President - Letter campaign. Mas madaming reklamo, mas papansinin.
Media & Documentation
Media mileage - Rappler, Inquirer, local radio. Mas maraming ilaw sa issue, mas mahirap sa company magtuloy.
Document everything - Videos ng community consultation kung wala masyado tao, photos ng water source na maaapektuhan, statements ng farmers/fisherfolk.
Partner with NGOs - Alyansa Tigil Mina, Legal Rights Center, Haribon. May lawyers at technical experts sila libre.
Mga nangyari na sa ibang lugar:
South Cotabato - Provincial ordinance banning open-pit mining. Hanggang Supreme Court umabot pero nanalo LGU 2022.
Nueva Vizcaya - 2021 in-override ni Duterte yung LGU ban via EO, pero nagka-delay ng 5+ years dahil sa protests.
Marinduque - After Marcopper disaster 1996, total ban na lahat ng mining.
Real talk: Kung solid si Mayor at Governor sa company, mahirap pero hindi imposible. Pinaka-effective pa rin yung sabay-sabay na pressure: legal + barangay resolutions + media + national agencies.
Important: Lahat dapat legal at peaceful. Barikada pwede pero dapat hindi harangan ang public roads kasi pwede kayo kasuhan. Coordinate with lawyers muna.
