ILOCOS

NETWORK

FOR THE

ENVIRONMENT

#125 Florida Street, San Isidro, Candon City, 2710 Ilocos Sur
mail: defendilocos@yahoo.com
hotline: (globe) +63926-676-9876
(talk&text) +930-780-5873
May 21, 2015
DIR. CARLOS TAYAG
Regional Director
Mines & Geosciences Bureau I
San Fernando City, La Union
Dear Dir. Tayag,
We would like to call your attention on the worsening situation and environmental destruction caused by
widespread and massive copper and gold ore extraction in Brgy. Patiacan, Quirino, Ilocos Sur. Below are
excerpts from the report prepared by this network together with the Indigenous Peoples Program of the United
Church of Christ in the Philippines-North Luzon Jurisdiction and the Ilocos Human Rights Alliance.
1. Mining operation in Brgy. Patiacan is a clear and present threat to the life, health and
livelihood of residents in six barangays (Patiacan, Patungcaleo, Lamag, Malideg,
Banoen and Cayus) composed of ten communities with a population of 4,846
individuals.
Since the operation started in 2008, residents observed dwindling number of fresh
water fishes and crustaceans caught in Ballas-iyan River. On April 25, 2015 a massive
fish kill occurred from the point where Sitan Creek meets the river down to Cayus
(about 3 kms downstream were affected).
Residents also reported decrease in crop yield in areas irrigated by the water from
Ballasian River, Sitan and Bagset Creek. In some farmlands, decrease of yield reached
half of the original volume of harvested rice.
Possible contamination of hazardous waste and chemicals of the household water
source of Madapoy and Patungcaleo due to the construction and operation of leaching
pond in Mt. Makawkawa. The place is located just above the spring feeding the water
system for the two communities.
2. Traces of copper contamination are visible in the land and water where the processing
plant of South Ocean Mining Corporation once stood and operated. Bluish coloring (a
sign of copper contamination) are evident in the soil, structures as well as small
puddles of mud and water in the area. Without proper rehabilitation, the
contamination may become irreversible and be a persistent health threat in the area.
We hope that we can replicate our joint effort during our campaign against magnetite mining and conduct a
joint site-inspection in Quirino, much like the one we undertook in Metro Vigan in January 2013. We look
forward for your positive response. Thank you and God bless!
Very truly yours,

SHERWIN DE VERA
Regional Coordinator