2

exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines are owned by the

state.

“It shall be the responsibility of the state to promote

their rational exploration, development, utilization, and
conservation through the combined effort of government
and the private sector in order to enhance national growth
in a way that effectively safeguards the environment and
protect the rights of affected communities”

Montalban, Rizal is located on the slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountain

Range. The Municipality is composed of 11 barangays and known as the ”Quarry

Town” of Rizal. The local government units collect taxes from the big quarry

operator/s. The municipal and provincial government likewise earn from taxes

generated from the quarrying activities in their areas. One of the major reasons

why we conducted our study in Sitio Anginan San Isidro Rodriguez Rizal

because small scale gold mining is one of the sources of income of the town.

With this regard, we want to knew how did small scale gold mining affects

environmental and social way of life.

Background of the Study

Sitio Anginan is a part of Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal located in

the outermost part of the Barangay. It has an estimated constituent land for about

more than 1000 Hectares with a population of 1200 people on a recent census.

Sitio Anginan is called to be as Jacket and Anginan by the indigent people

who lived there. It is said to be a Jacket, because it lies between two mountains
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that serve as a zipper on a jacket and later they call it as Anginan after a few

decades.

Small scale gold mining is one of the source of income aside from bamboo

stick making, and kaingin. They get this gold in river as they dig the sand/rocks

below the river ground and put it in the so called “Barkis”. Barkis is a flat metal

surrounded by a large hole metal screen. Gold is collected and hold by the foam

or cloth inserted between the barkis base and metal screen. After they collected

the gold in the barkis, they transfer the collected gold to “Dulang”. Dulang is

same as salakot shape. They swirl the round shape dulang and throw away the

useless sand and other residue.

There is a significant contribution that the mining sector has played in the

lives of most countries especially the developing ones that have been blessed

with their precious metals and resources (Opoku-ware Jones 2010).

Economist needs mineral resources and the proceeds accrued from them

to satisfy their basic needs. But the continual exploitation of the mineral

resources is destroying the livelihoods and environment of communities where

mining activities are carried out and had been the root of widespread human right

abuses, poisoning of people and environment, deforestation as well as forest

degradation in many communities in many communities and countries (Gualnam,

2008:1)
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Exploitation of mineral resources is frequently destructive activity that

damages the ecosystems and causes problems for people living nearby the

mining operations (Rhet, 2006)

The social impacts of mining activities and projects have received

increasing attention in recent years. Though it has been argued that mining can

be a vital economic propellant for most countries especially the developing ones

because it can facilitate industrialization along with the promises of wealth and

jobs (Gualman, 2008:2)

The impact of mining on local communities can be devastating. Most

notable are disruption of social cohesion, internal migration due to loss or

deterioration of economic activities, intense inequality against women who are

primarily affected by a predominantly male activity. (Amnesty international 2012)

Rau ET. al. (2013) examines the impact of mining-related pollution on

educational achievement. They focus on a case of environmental negligence in

Northern Chile in which hundreds of houses were built in the proximity of a

deposit of mineral waste. This mineral waste had hazardous levels of lead and

other heavy metals. This study finds that children living in the proximity of the

mineral waste had higher concentrations of lead in their blood and worse

academic performance. They estimate that this translates into a significant loss

of earnings in adulthood.

Aragon and Rud (2013) focus on the effects of pollution on agriculture

using the case of large-scale gold mining in Ghana. This study is motivated by
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the existing evidence in biological sciences linking pollution to lower crop, yields,

and degradation of key agricultural inputs such as soil and water. They find

robust evidence that cumulative gold production (a measure of the stock

pollution) is associated with a significance reduction in agricultural productivity.

This loss of productivity is associated with an increase in a rural poverty. This

study highlights importance of pollution externality (i.e. loss of agricultural

productivity) that may occur when potentially polluting industries are located in

the vicinity of rural areas.

Van der Golts and Barnwal (2013) examine the effect of mining in human

health outcomes. They use a rich micro-dataset from 44 developing countries

and difference of it in different approach. They find suggestive evidence that

mining is associated with an increase in stunting and anaemia among children

and young women respectively. The effects are localized in the vicinity of mines

(i.e. within 5 km). These effects occur despite an increase in household wealth,

which attenuate the negative effects of mining on health.

Marchand (2012) focuses on the effect of mining on local labor markets

(i.e. modest employment spill over mostly construction services and retail)

associated with the 1970’s energy boom and bust. Fleming and Measham (2014)

also find positive employment spill over associated with the recent boom of coal

seam gas in Australia.

Allcott and Keniston (2013) and Michael (2011) study the rural countries in

the entire U.S. They find that oil and gold discoveries increase population size,

income growth and wages but do not seem to negatively affect manufacturing.
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Oil and gold discoveries have a positive effect on the, manufacturing employment

and output.

Almost a quarter of the world’s gold supply can be traced back to 10-15

million poor small scale gold miners, or artisanal or small-scale miners (ASM),

scattered about the globe. This miners are also the third largest source of

mercury pollution today, however, comprising about 30% of the world's

anthropogenic mercury releases. One of three things will happen once the

mercury has evaporated. The gaseous mercury maybe inhaled by the workers

and their families leading to serious health issues. It could also rise into the

atmosphere, where it circulates for about three months before raining down again

(R. Romulo. Philippine Star 2016)

Small-scale gold mining in the Philippines can be both profitable and less

harmful to people and environment without mercury says the group BAN Toxic

(2015).

According to Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla (2014) about 70% of the 1 million small-

scale miners can be found in Mindanao without the bulk in Diwalwal while those

in Benguet areas are only third in terms of number. He said that black-sand

mining was particularly destructive and inefficient because it contains many high-

valued minerals in elementary forms in which the small-scale miner are ill-

equipped to collect.

With an estimated US$ 1.4 trillion in mineral reserves, especially gold,

copper, nickel, aluminum, and chromite, the mining potential of Philippines is one
 7

of the largest in the world. According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau

(MGB), the archipelago is second in the world in gold and third in copper

resources. The country is ranked top five in the world for overall mineral

reserves, covering an estimated nine million hectares, although less than 2% has

received mining permits. (Arangkada 2016)

Mining can be a sunset to our industry, with the proper use of our natural

resources and discipline we can achieve it (Lopez 2016)

United Nation Environment Program and DENR (2007) went to the

Philippines to conduct a study. The main aim of the forum is to informed about

the negative effect of mercury. According to the study of United Nation

Environment Programme by the help of DENR that mercury is big contributor of

global increasing temperature which is causing climate change.

Ramos (2010), among daunting constraints mining has been facing is that,

it is extractive activity the way it has been traditionally practiced. This makes the

country a mere exporter of raw materials to industrialized countries and unable to

benefit from value-addition. To help address this problem, the national

government has recently pronounced a long term strategy of national

industrialization in the mining sector. Among others, this strategy of national

industrialization in the sector to expand into processing and other downstream

activities and transform low value outputs of raw materials into processed

products with higher-value added.

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A Fact-Finding Team composed of human rights and environmental

experts from the United Kingdom (2011) which looked into the impact of mining

on the environment and peoples' livelihoods in the Philippines highlighted the

occurrence of mining-related human rights abuses affecting local communities

especially indigenous people; extrajudicial killings of persons protesting against

mining; corruption in the mining sector; political pressure on the judiciary

resulting in pro-mining decisions; and environmental impacts.

The UNEP-DENR Global Forum on Artisanal and Small-scale gold mining

(2010) conducted study about health and environmental impact of mercury in

small-scale gold mining in the Philippines. They found out that small-scale mining

operations have the major impact in agricultural production in health. Five (5) out

of one hundred (100) residents from Mt. Diwalwal are recommended to undergo

further health examination, for possible detoxification. They found that there are

inorganic or elemental mercury is free dominant in the blood of the respondents.

Most residents of the gold-rich village of Diwata, popularly known as

Diwalwal, Durano in Mindanao crudely extracts gold from milled ore by using

mercury, a highly toxic heavy metal. Almost daily, many of the estimated 18,000

small-scale miners in Diwalwal handle mercury and other deadly chemicals with

bare hands and no protective masks, in spite of warnings by health authorities

about the danger. (Inquirer Mindanao 2013)

According Veneracion (2006) study in Bulacan noted that the common

illnesses among the children in the quarry site were fever, coughs and cold. Also,
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the children were exposed to accidents such as mashed fingers, foot struck by

hoe, bump by head truck and foot pinned by adobe.

Theoretical Framework

This study was anchored in the theory of hierarchy of needs of Abraham

Maslow, the basic needs are said to motivate people when they are not met. Also

the need to fulfil such needs will become stronger the longer the duration they

are denied. For example, a person goes without food the more hungry they will

become.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is related to the present study in a way that it

gives the researcher the idea on how the physical needs affect the environmental

and social status of the community in Sitio Anginan, San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal

since the study is about environmental and social impact.

According to Person- Environment Congruence Theory, which generally

focuses on dynamic relationship between human behaviour and physical

environment. People, as a goal-directed being act upon the environment and in

return influence by the environment. (Ittelson, Proshansky, and Rivilin 1970)

This theory is related to our present study because it tells how the human

and environment are interconnected and affect each other. Since our study is

about environmental and social impact of small-scale gold mining in Sitio

Anginan, San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.

Since our study is about environmental and social impact of small scale

gold-mining in Sitio Anginan, San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal, the theories cited
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above give an ample understanding to the researchers. Because in this study it

tells how human beings and environment are interconnected.

Conceptual Framework

In the next page presents a pyramid, the base has caricature shows the

respondents as major source of data in this study, which are the miners,

residents, barangay officers it also shows the social state of respondents and

environment in Anginan River that serve as the input of the study. At the second

level contains caricature that shows interviewing and camera that represents the

documentation, recording, video presentation that serves as the process in

conducting this study and then at the top contains caricature that shows the

impacts of the small scale mining, in environment and people of Sitio Anginan,

and the solutions in protecting the people and environment of Sitio this will serve

as the output of the study.

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Conceptual Paradigm

Figure 1

A Conceptual Model of the Environmental and Social

Impact of Small-Scale Gold Mining in Sitio Anginan

San Isidro Rodriguez Rizal

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Statement of the Problem

This study sought to find out the Environmental and Social Impact of

Small-Scale Gold Mining in Sitio Anginan San Isidro Rodriguez Rizal.

Specifically, this study sought to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1. Sex;

1.2. Age;

1.3. Length of Residency;

1.4. Number of Family members;

1.5. Income; and

1.6. Educational Attainment?

2. How does small scale gold mining affect the Anginan River in terms of:

2.1. Land Degradation;

2.2. Water Contamination; and

2.3. Threat to organisms along the river?

3. How does small scale gold mining affect the socio-economic status of the

respondents in terms of:

3.1. Health;

3.2. Income; and

3.3. Education?

4. What are the programs initiated/conducted by the local government to protect

and conserve the environment in Sitio Anginan, San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal?
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5. What recommendations can you offer to protect and conserve the Sitio

Anginan River?

Assumptions

The small scale gold mining exist in Sitio Anginan, San Isidro, Rodriguez,

Rizal and it has a negative impact on the environment and to the residents of the

said barangay.

Scope and Limitation

The objective of this study is to observe the environmental and social

impacts of small-scale gold mining in Sitio Anginan, San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal,

School Year 2016-2017. There are five (5) miners included in mining as a source

of income, five (5) barangay officials as a source of information regarding to

dissemination of policies and status of the Sitio and Anginan river in small scale

mining in the area, and five (5) residents of the area as a source of information

about the effect of small scale mining in their area. They comprised the

respondents of the study. Specifically, the focus of this research is to know the

present situation of the vicinity, environmentally and socially and second aim is to

know how the gold mining affects the environment in terms of Natural resources,

soil erosion, water contamination and how gold mining affect the respondents

socially in terms of health, income, education.

Significance of the Study

The result of the study may contribute to the welfare of the following:
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Family. To have specific guidelines on how to use the natural resources

especially the minerals and avoid the rapid devastation of our environment.

Government Sectors. The findings of the study will provide data to

improve their legal and regulatory framework of mining sector in order to

safeguard the environment and encourage private sectors involvement.

Non-government Sector. The result of the study will encourage the

NGO’s to assist and provide aid to the people to be responsible for using of our

natural resources.

Environmentalist. The result of the study will guide them to come up with

guidelines, proper implementation about maintaining healthy environment, and

develop more altruistic environmental concern.

Future researchers. This study may serve as a new avenue of the study

to be explored by future researchers. This will further benefit them by considering

variables involved in the study and give them insights on possible conclusion of

the research study.

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Definition of Terms

To establish and The following terms were operationally defined and

conceptually defined for the purpose of better understanding of readers of this

paper.

Age. Refers to the years of existence since birth.

Contamination. The presence of an unwanted impurities on a material;

e.g. Rivers, swaps, ocean etc.

Conserve. To maintain and prolong the life of a natural resources.

Education. It refers to ways in which people learn skills and gain

knowledge and understanding about the world, and themselves.

Education Attainment. Refers to the highest level of education

completed.

Environment. A place wherein a group of organisms are interacting with

one another.

Environmental Impact. A long term effect of a man-made activity change

or development on a natural environment

Gold Mining. The extraction of precious element (gold) came from the

soil, rocks and/or bodies of water.

Health. Is the status of body that reflects the outer and internal condition

of an organism.
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Impact. A long term effect of activites that last for a decades.

Income. It refers to a money that an individual receives in exchange for

providing a good or service.

River. It refers to a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater,

flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river.

San Isidro. A barangay in Rodriguez, Rizal. It was divided in different

areas and one of those was Sitio Anginan, the setting of the study.

Small-scale mining. Refers to an activities that uses rudimentary method

to extract and process minerals and metals e.g. gold on a small scale.

Sex. Gender preference of the respondent.

Sitio Anginan. Is a part of Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal located

in the outermost part of the Barangay wherein this study will conduct

Social Impact. A long term effect of an activity or something that affect a

person for a long period of time

Socio-economic status. An economic and sociological combined total

measure of a person’s work experience and of an individual’s or family’s

economic and social position in relation to others, based on income, education,

and occupation.

Soil Degradation. The decline in soil condition caused by its improper

use or poor management, usually for agricultural, industrial or urban purposes.