Mt. Magdiwata: Another Guinsaugon in the making?

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Philippines  – With 48 landslide occurrences and 22 land cracks discovered due to illegal mining, timber poaching and other destructive activities, concerned residents and local officials here fear that Mt. Magdiwata is another Mt. Guinsaugon tragedy in the making.

Mt. Magdiwata, along with all the mountain ranges in Agusan Valley extending up to Compostela Valley in

Compostela province, is part of the red mountain ranges known to have rich gold ore deposits.

Five people were declared dead, 13 were injured, and 17 still missing as of press time after a landslide occurred in the mountainous area of Sitio Panganason, Barangay Kingking, Pantukan, Compostela Valley early dawn of Good Friday.

The 1,658-hectare Mt. Magdiwata watershed forest reserve is the only source of potable water supply to some 100,000 residents of this town.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Mt. Magdiwata is also sanctuary to the remaining flora and fauna and other wildlife endangered animal and bird species affected by unabated timber poaching, hunting, quarrying and illegal mining and exploration activities.

Mt. Magdiwata stretches up to the municipality of Rosario but a majority of areas belong to the town of San Francisco.

On Oct. 23, 1993, Mt. Magdiwata was declared a watershed forest reserve under Presidential Proclamation 282.

Under the watershed proclamation, no individuals or groups are allowed to cut trees, dig grounds, excavate, hunt, disturbance of ecology and other illegal activities within Mt. Magdiwata.

However, in a complaint letter to San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Mayor Jenny de Asis dated April 7, 2011, San Francisco Water District (SFWD) General Manager Elmer Luzon informed Asis that mining firm East Coast Mineral Resources has been allegedly conducting illegal mining activities within the watershed area, particularly in Barangay Mati.

Village officials in Barangays Alegria and Karaos, all in San Francisco town located near the foot of Mt. Magdiwata, also complained of unabated illegal mining and other destructive activities within the watershed.

Karaos barangay chairman Reynalito Homeres, in his separate complaint, said his constituents challenged both De Asis and municipal councilor Lerizza de Leon, chairperson of the town committee, to do something about landslide occurrences in their area.

Village officials admitted that they are having difficulty in stopping small-scale miners “because some of them are just relying on the industry to survive.” 

During an emergency meeting with stakeholders in the area headed by municipal administrator Evangeline Tan and councilor De Leon last Wednesday, it was agreed upon that an on-site inspection and investigation would be conducted next week.

Pete Ong, liaison officer of East Coast Mineral Resources Corp., holder of an approved small-scale mining permit, insisted during the meeting that the firm has not violated any laws and has not encroached on the watershed.

Records from the Environmental Management Bureau regional office furnished to the water district showed that the company was already penalized P50,000 for violating their Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) due to illegal mining operations in Manangahon, Barangay Mati, which is within the declared protected area.