Mindanao Action Points Advocacy Coordinating Group
Mining Research Databanking Template
Title of Research Study:
Lead Research Institute :
Principal Investigators:
Source of Funding Support:
Period Covered for the Study:
Over-all Objective/s of the Study:
Research Methodologies Employed:
Unit and Local of the Study:
Impacts of Mining in an Island Ecosystem: The Case of Rapu-Rapu Island, Philippines
Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research, Ateneo de Naga University
Dr. Emelina G. Regis
The Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE)/ Haribon Foundation
Year 2005-2006
INECAR aimed to assess the damage to the biophysico-chemical condition of the eastern portion of the
island of Rapu-Rapu affected by the current mining activities. Specifically, the study intended to: a)
determine the level of heavy metal pollution in the water (river) in and adjacent to the mining site; b)
determine the level of heavy metals absorbed by the soil/sediments of the affected river and seashore;
and c) ascertain the impacts of heavy metals on biological indicators. Furthermore, INECAR wanted to
know the effects of the disaster on the livelihood of local communities.
Survey
In-depth Interview
Focus Group Discussion
Others________________
 Comparative Analysis between the affected sites
 Vegetational Analysis
 Physico-Chemical parameters such as pH, salinity, temperature, soil/sediment color & texture ,
slope and water velocity were also measured/ determined
 Responses of Bioindicators to heavy metal pollution was also determined
 Specific locations were established by Global Positioning System using aGPS (Garmin brand)
Site 1 – Pagcolbon River, located at Barangay Pagcolbon, Rapu-Rapu
Site 2 – Ungay Creek, located at Barangay Binosauan, Rapu-Rapu
Site 3 – Mistika Creek and Look Creek of Barangays Mistika and Gogon respectively, located in the rural
area of the town proper (poblacion) of Rapu-Rapu
Findings and Recommendations
Significant Findings
Lafayette Mining in Rapu-Rapu caused two types of direct impacts
that generated toxic heavy metals:
 Direct actions of the mining company resulting in the a)
generation of large volumes of wastes rocks, tailings and
overburden soil, and b) introduction of cyanide and other
chemicals to extract the target metals.
 Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) resulting in additional acidic creeks
polluted with heavy metals causing widespread pollution to
the creeks, the sediments, and the marine ecosystem.
Recommendations or Implications
It is therefore recommended that mining must be stopped, the permits
associated with the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) of
Lafayette Philippines, Inc. must be cancelled and no mining must ever
be conducted in Rapu-Rapu again.
The environmental problems currently being experienced in RapuRapu as a result of mining will continue for years to come. For this
reason, additional studies must be done in the island and adjacent
impacted areas. Topics of concer are heavy metals existing in the
Mindanao Action Points Advocacy Coordinating Group
Mining Research Databanking Template
Both impacts affected the living organisms therein, including the
people and their livelihoods. AMD is the more serious of the two
impacts because toxic heavy metals are continuously released through
a natural chemical process that is self-generating and persistent for a
long time.
Heavy metal analyses revealed a) contamination of studied
river/creek (Pagcolbon & Ungay Creek) with high levels of cadmium,
copper and zinc; b) contamination of riverbank sediments with high
levels of arsenic, cadmium and copper, the latter exceedingly high in
the shore. Copper is also exceedingly high in water at the upper and
lower tailings ponds, which are located inside the mine.
island that have been brought to the surface by the mining operation,
and their impacts to the productivity of the land and the sea as well as
on the health of the people in local communities, Thus, the following
specific recommendations must be done:
The government must...
 Cancel all the mining permits associated with the granting of
the ECC to Lafayette Philippines, Inc.
 Concerned government units must not anymore give mining
permits in the island of Rapu-Rapu, now and in the future.
 Rehabilitate the degraded ecosystems, especially the newly
formed acidic creek in Malobago, Pagcolbon and Binasauan.
 Make extra efforts to provide expert assistance to the health
problems experienced by the local people. Heavy metal
accumulation does not end with the cyanide spill and fish-kill.
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) will continue to release heavy
metals from the open pit and tailings dump through runoff,
the Pacolbon river and the newly formed acidic creeks.Thus,
toxic metals can enter the food chain and eventually affect the
health of the people in local communities.
 Provide agencies responsible for evaluating mining projects
and those giving permits, with more comprehensive trainings
to improve their capability for assessing pollution generated by
mining operations as well as for rehabilitating degraded areas
especially in places with acid generating capacity.
The impacts on the Biological Indicators showed that:
 Generally, the levels of heavy metals assessed are higher than
the natural content with copper much higher than the critical
content in both upstream and outlet of the contaminated
sites. Chromium was detected high in the grass Digitaria ciliaris
collected from the contaminated site. Arsenic, cadmium and
copper in the brown seaweed Padina japonica are also higher
in the contaminated area than in the reference site.
 The results of analysis on pollen grain abortiveness of
Stachytarpheta jamaicencis are statistically significant. Those
collected from the contaminated sites exhibited higher pollen
abortion than the reference site.
 Abnormal pollen grains were observed in both contaminated
and reference sites with the latter exhibiting much higher For the people of Rapu-rapu and Sorsogon, they must...
abnormal pollen. This means that a heavy metal normally
 Continue to care for their environment that gave them
present in polymetallic area is causing the abnormality. This
sustainable livelihood
condition however is within the normal level of 5%, thus, can
 Prohibit activities that cause destruction of the ecosystems
be tolerated by plants.
which also affect their livelihood
 The two grass indicators (Digitaria ciliaris and Cyperus
 Be vigilant in allowing activities and projects that destroy
kyllingia) revealed much lower starch granules in plants
sustainable livelihood
obtained and/or raised in soli/sediments taken from the
 Be knowledgeable through continuing environmental
Mindanao Action Points Advocacy Coordinating Group
Mining Research Databanking Template

contaminated sites than those from the reference site.
Heavy metal pollution caused structural changes in the cellular
parts of Halodule pinifolia, especially in its chloroplast.
education for better understanding of their ecosystems and
impacts of unsustainable use.
If possible, additional research must be done in Rapu-Rapu and
adjacent areas especially on the following topics:
The above findings proved that:
 It is the natural capacity of the island’s rocks to generate acid
 A more complete assessment of heavy metals existing in the
through Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) that released the heavy
island of Rapu-Rapu and the surrounding marine environment.
metals.
 Further research on the responses of bioindicators to
 The mining operations facilitated the process of AMD.
chromium and other heavy metals existing in Rapu-Rapu. This
 The mining operations aggravated pollution through the
is particularly helpful in areas where laboratory services for
addition of cyanide in the extraction process.
assessing heavy metals are limited.
 The mining operations worsened pollution through the
 Responses of bioindicators specific to particular heavy metals
generation of large volumes of dumped overburden soil,
and influence of other factors such as pH.
contaminated wastes rocks and tailings that also brought
 Specific forms of chromium existing in the island and their
about landslides.
accumulation in plants, animals and in people.
 It is not the length of time of exposure to the toxic metals that
 Impacts on marine organism at the outfall of the waste water
destroyed the productive capacity of the living organisms, the
and/or slurry coming from the mining operations.
land and the sea. Rather, it is the level of toxic pollution
 Cyanide residues on land and in the marine environment
brought about by the mining that caused the damage.
 Tracer studies on the dispersion of heavy metals surrounding
 Pollution has also affected the nearby coastal municipalities of
the island of Rapu-Rapu especially during the seasonal
Sorsogon.
monsoon (Northeast and Southwest).
 The geophysico-chemical conditions in the island of Rapu-Rapu
 Financial losses to the community as a result of fish-kill and
also facilitated the process and progress of pollution and
cyanide spill.
related destructions.
 Health studies such as assessing the level of heavy metals
accumulated in tissues of children and adult.
Lafayette mining operations have impacted the ecosystems by Finally, our government must learn to value renewable natural
causing the dispersion of toxic heavy metals in the terrestrial, resources and understand the principle of sustainable utilization of
aquatic, and marine ecosystems as well as causing death to marine resources. Only when this level of awareness is achieved, can our
life due to cyanide spill.
country prosper for many generations to come.
Submitted by:
INECAR, Ateneo de Naga University
Date Submitted:
April 15, 2015
Contact Details of the Research Institute: Inecar.adnu@gmail.com / (054) 473-8447 loc. 2217