Villagers in a small island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar are protesting plans to build a causeway in their place, claiming that it is actually a mining operation in disguise.
VILLAGERS in Manicani Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar have banded together to halt a planned mining venture in their island.
Protect Manicani Island Society (PROMISI), a local environmental group, has filed an appeal to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) to turn down an application made by the Hinatuan Mining Corporation to construct a causeway inside the island.
The association as well as several other residents believe that the corporation may just use the causeway project to hide an even bigger agenda which is to illegally mine resources in the island.
The need for a causeway is also questionable for several individuals as there already exist a causeway in the said area thus increasing the doubts of the company’s real intentions.
"Why is it that the focus of the discussion in PAMB is not the rehabilitation of Manicani Island as part of the Guiuan Protected Area when it is their role to push for a rehabilitation of the mine site in the first place?” Rebecca Destajo, a PROMISI member, said during a recent protest activity conducted by the association. (JKA)
Tags: #OpinYon8, #GuiuanEasternSamar, #mining, #ManicaniIsland