This campaign is supported by

CLAIMS OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE EXAGGERATED. Non-formal

education was started by government before RTNMC embarked on its alternative formal

education to indigenous peoples. Likewise, road development in Bataraza was made possible

by government funds. RTNMC housing provisions and alternative formal education are

recently implemented programs, part of the company’s so-called “social responsibility”,

which was not voluntary. Instead it is but a result of the pressure from local communities

and civil society groups who opposed the establishment of the hydrometallurgical

processing plant in the EIA consultations and public hearings in 2001 and 2002.

As in other areas of the country, mining in Bataraza has continued to imperil biodiversity, livelihood and the culture of local communities because companies continue to take advantage of other people’s poverty and ignorance, because the government allows it, and because there are people who can be bought.

YES, EVERYONE SHOULD SEEBATARAZA, PALAWAN NOW.

And see how its forests, biodiversity, indigenous culture and farmlands have been ravaged by mining.

Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) has been operating in Bataraza since 1975. By 2000, the company has produced and shipped out more than twelve (12) million metric tons of

is below the poverty threshold level, and one of the top 10 poorest

municipalities in Palawan.

Corporate track record must be consistently established before a corporation can claim to being responsible.Was mining responsible in these instances?

FARMLAND DAMAGE AND COMPENSATION - As far back as 20 years

ago, farmers were seeking compensation of almost P20 million for their losses to

farmlands. An exhausting haggling process dragged on for years, until the famers

were constrained to accept a measly P1.4 million in 1997, when RTNMC was

undergoing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the conversion

of their mining permit to a mineral production sharing agreement. Until now, many

farmers feel they have not been adequately compensated for the pollution of their

farmlands and loss in agricultural production.

WATER CONTAMINATION – In many potable sources of water for the

communities, nickel has been found to be in concentrations of more than 10 times

the allowable content of Japanese water quality standards. Hexavalent chromium

Processing Plant (HPP) has also been found.

DISREGARD FOR PROPER LEGAL AND GOVERNANCE PROCESSES:

without the required clearances from government agencies.

PCSD staff) was made possible when the area was converted into alienable

and disposable land and titled under former employees of the mining company

under questionable circumstances.

of the municipality was made at the behest of RTNMC, to enable the mining

area that supports livelihood of farmers and indigenous communities.

LACK OF TRANSPARENCY - RTNMC has vehemently opposed the

formation of another multipartite monitoring team (MMT) for its HPP operations,

and refused the inclusion of additional representatives from civil society groups,

despite petitions to push for transparency and broaden participation in monitoring

efforts.

REAL PROPERTY TAXES WERE PAID STARTING 2005 ONLY and

the appraisal value of the real property continues to be contested before the Tax

Appeals Board. In 2008, RTNMC and Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) paid

total real property taxes of more than P89 million when the municipality’s appraisal

value was P120 million plus. In 2009, the two mining companies paid P69 million

after seeking a 20% discount for paying taxes on time.

MOST WORKERS EMPLOYED BY RTNMC ARE MIGRANTS, NOT LOCALS. The total employment generated by mining companies in 2008 was

816 individuals, as compared to agriculture, which accounts for 21,636 individuals

BATARAZA IS STILL MALARIA-INFESTED. According to data from

the 6th leading cause of mortality in Bataraza.

Sign the petition by going to

www.no2mininginPalawan.com

or texting NO2MINING<name>/<age>/<location>

Sender shall be charged

P2.50 per text. View ‘The Price Palawan is paying for mining’ on

www.youtube.com.

Tagpisa, Ocayan Drinking water supplySumbiling

Drinking water supply

Tagupan River

Chromium:

72.3 micro g /L

(Allowable standard is 50)

Manganese:

222 micro g /L

(Allowable standard is 50)

Manganese: 64.7 micro g /L

(Allowable standard is 50)Nickel: 141 micro g /L

(Allowable standard is 10)

1st Tailing Dam

RTNMC Townsite

HPPs

near the Hydrometallurgical Processing Plants (HPP)

Severe erosion

around the mining

road used by Rio

Tuba. During the

rainy season the

water creates deep

clefts on the side

of the road. No

mitigating measures

have been put into

place to reduce

erosion.

Lesions from exposure

to contaminated water

MANILA BULLETIN FP.indd 1 4/1/11 10:07 AM