1. REACTION PAPER
On the holding of LANTUGIAY 2012
A Debate and Forum entitled
“This House Regrets a Mining Free Cagayan de Oro City”
held last September 29, 2012, 1 PM at the Little Theater, Xavier University
Initiated by the PA 200 Class of Prof. Michael Roa
Through the Sponsorship of the Graduate School, Xavier University
and the Supreme Student Council
in celebration of the 112th year Anniversary of the Civil Service
Introduction
The debate and the forum were initiated by the class of Professor Michael Roa as a class
requirement in PA 200 in celebration of the 112 th Anniversary of Civil Service with a national
theme of “Kawani, Ikaw ay Isang Lingkod Bayani!”
The format of the entire program is to host a debate and after which a forum from
among pre-selected resource speakers presenting their views about the identified topic.
Mining was chosen as the topic since it is the most relevant issue in the City of Cagayan
de Oro.
Debaters from the Parliamentary Circle Debaters of Xavier University was selected to
participate in the debate and they were given the above-mentioned topic three (3) weeks prior
to the debate to ensure a well researched exchange of ideas, presentations and views.
The resource speakers of the forum were coming from the various sectors involved in
Mining. Those who attended were representatives from Bangon Kagay-an, an NGO, from the
indigenous people, from the Barangays affected from Mining and from the DENR-Mines and
Geosciences Bureau. Representatives from the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and from
the Miners did not attend the program despite invitations for various reasons.
The Topic: This House Regrets a Mining Free Cagayan de Oro City
Advantages of Mining in Cagayan de Oro. It was well presented from the affirmative side
of the debate the advantages of mining to the development not only of Cagayan de Oro but
also of the entire province of Misamis Oriental and its neighboring localities. Mining activities in
the City are inter-connected with the province and other areas surrounding area bordering with
the City.
Most of these mining are for Gold and Chromate which abound the area.
Prof. Michael Roa| PA 200| Final Examination| A Reaction Paper| Mr. R. Dumaug| Page 1 of 4 pages

2. Employment and the source of livelihood of people connected with mining were the
main reasons why mining should not banned in the City. There are professionals and skilled
people who will be affected if mining will be totally banned, and the government cannot
provide immediate alternatives if they lost their source of income.
From among the professional miners, their education, skills, experiences and learned
technologies from mining are very important sources of knowledge and information which
other Cities don’t have. If properly managed, the City would become the hub of professionals
on mining, metallurgy, chemistry and other related science and technology careers.
The local government units are also receiving benefits out of mining through taxes, fees
and other revenues. These taxes raised support the various development programs of the local
government.
Some areas in Cagayan de Oro are sitting on precious metals and minerals which could
not be used for agricultural, farming, residential or other utilization of the land. They have to be
mined in order for the society and men be benefited from it. Mining is very important in order
to support other industries. Important things and items which we need everyday are minerals
or metals mined. Hence, mining cannot be factor out in the development of human beings and
communities.
Disadvantages of Mining. The impact of Typhoon Sendong which struck the City last year
is the reasons why there are groups in the City are for the banning of mining.
Thousands were killed, victimized and displaced brought about by that typhoon. Muddy
waters and cut or uprooted trees were brought from the upland down to the City proper. The
immediate blame is placed on illegal logging and mining in the highlands of Cagayan de Oro. In
searching for justice, the local administration was blamed not because of nature’s wrath but
because of their mismanagement in regulating mining, bad planning and patronage politics in
the past that brought about that catastrophe and tragedy.
It was asserted that Cagayan de Oro’s topographical location and formation is very
prone to massive flooding. All elements of environmental damage are present with mountains
at the peripheries, vast plains and the sea. Hence mining should be banned so that the
mountains and the rivers will be protected from any abuses thereby giving protection to the
people residing below and mitigate the effects of flooding.
As to the economic status of the people working in mining, various studies conducted
show that these people were prone to abuses with low salary and wages, no benefits and
others. Mining companies are not model industries that provide high end benefits to its
employees.
On the other hand, the government is receiving a very minimal amount from the taxes
derived out of mining. It cannot even compensate the cost of damages brought about by
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3. mining or when time comes that the area will be mined out. In fact various local government
units are complaining of their share from the mining taxes, fees and charges.
Reactions from the Resource Speakers
The first resource speaker was from Bangon Kagay-an, Mr. Nixon Baban. They were
organized primarily in reaction to the City Government’s failure to address the needs of those
who were victimized by the Typhoon Sendong.
Mr. Baban, in his prepared speech, asserted their group’s stand that they are for a
responsible mining in Cagayan de Oro. He recognized the benefits that mining can give to the
society but if unregulated and tangled with graft and corruption, a Sendong like tragedy is likely
to come in the future. What they are advocating now is to have a moratorium on the issuance
of mining permits and to review the existing ones so that the government and the people of
Cagayan de Oro can evaluate on which are operating legally and responsibly.
Noel Butad from the A4 Alliance is a representative from the indigenous people. He’s
opening statement reflects the real situation within their communities. He said that the lands
mined have been since time immemorial cultivated and been with the indigenous people.
When miners came, they were removed and displaced. Some were hired as manual laborer in
the mining area receiving a very minimal amount of wage. They were also hired as security
guards employed to displace their relatives and other members of their indigenous
communities. Unfortunately, when talking about mining, their plight is left unattended.
A Barangay Official of Barangay Iponan representing the local government talked about
the source of income among the small scale miners in their Barangay. He even admitted that he
too is a miner and he started mining along the Iponan River at a very young age. Because of
poverty and limited opportunities, people are lured to work in these mining companies.
The DENR – MGB was represented by its newly appointed Regional Director Engr. Rex
Monsanto. He presented a brief situationer of mining activities in Cagayan de Oro City. He said,
and to the surprise of everyone listening, that mining inside the City has no permit from the
region because most of them are small scale. This kind of mining is within the powers and
authority of the Local Government Unit of Cagayan de Oro through the Mayor. He assured
everyone in the audience that once he will fully assume the responsibilities as newly appointed
MGB Director, he will investigate the small scale mining operations in the City.
Analysis
It is of my own view that mining is inevitable and that man cannot escape from it. The
material things we need in our daily lives and those that are useful for the development of
societies are produce of mining. Minerals and metals are necessary to all of these and, it is a
fact, man cannot survive without them.
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4. It is also a known fact that our country is one of the highly mineralized countries of the
world ranking between the 4th and 5th.
The inevitability of mining and the abundance of minerals in our country could have
been an essential ingredient for the progress of the Philippines. But we remain poor, highly
corrupt country and our mountains are denuded and areas badly exploited.
Where did we go wrong?
I believe that our system does not inculcate a responsible mining. What we inculcated,
like our patronage politics, is a destructive type of mining where like an Emperor’s new clothes,
our government is always barking on the benefits we received from mining but received
nothing.
It’s actually a hostage of patronage in the sense that the Filipino people are being
promised of something big like false hopes but the reality is only the few dominating oligarch
control this particular industry. This few have influenced the making of distorted environment
laws and policies and financing public officials during elections to protect their vested interests.
At the end of the day, it is the greater majority of the people who will be suffering from
the ill effects of mining from denuded mountains, destroyed watershed, rivers, lakes, seas,
ecological imbalance, health hazards and others.
Despite this current situation in our mining industry which does not support the
common good, there’s a glimmer of hope that Mining can bring this nation towards progress.
However, this will go through a long and difficult process.
The hope of Mining lies in how the public will continue to discuss this industry and come
up with a collective wisdom geared towards a responsible mining and respect on human
dignity. Sometimes exchange of ideas are infringed or manipulated by the controlling few to
protect their vested interests. Hence there’s a need to sustain public discussions for out a free
flow of ideas will come a perfect solution to all of this.
Closing Statements
The entire activity would not have been successful if not for the full support of the Dean
of the Graduate School and the staff. Understandably, most of the Chairpersons and members
of the working committees are employed in various offices and of which they have difficulty in
attending to their functions during working hours. This particular gap is responsibly filled in by
the Dean’s Office. They are worth mentioning and undeniably highly commendable.
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