Wounded Iron Mountain

Saturday, February 27, 2010

SURIGAO DEL SUR – Upon entering the pacific side of the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur, you will be greeted by an alluring coastline and lush towering green mountains.

Two old towns of Claver and Carrascal hosted the huge Iron Mountain, so called for its immense iron reserves. You could not reach the 120-year-old town of Carrascal without passing Novienta or the most mysterious, exciting and scary Kilometer 90. Local people would say “Novienta” because its 90 degrees uphill road.

A mountain rich with iron and other minerals, during day time the mountain becomes amber red.

Like zigzag road in Baguio, passing the narrow and curvaceous road of Novienta is quite an adventure for the motorist.

In the town of Claver, alluring seascapes and white beaches becoming color red.

With the entry of seven large-scale mining operations in the pacific side of the provinces, the towering red mountain, inch by inch is devoured by machines for shipment to Japan, China and Australia.

Machines that literally slice the red mountain into hundreds of wounds have caused the mountain to cry and drift its tears down to the pacific sea.

“They started to appease the people’s resistance with promise of development like community livelihood. They started to build center for operations and wharf for the loading of minerals to the ship. Employment was promised to all, yet until now only half have been employed for construction, and at this time they have mostly been laid off. All these were also the promises made by the mining companies which ultimately were proven to mean economic and physical dislocation of the people,” lamented Medio Suhian, president of Carrascalanon Hiniusang Aksyon Alang sa Yutang Gilauman (Cahayag).

Bashing Aclan, a resident and a woman leader of Nasipit, Adlay, Carrascal narrated, “I was offered an amount of P50,000 per one hectare of land. But we earned more than enough from our farm lots annually.”

Carrascal is the host of the largest mangrove forest in the province or if not, in the entire Philippines.

“This mangrove forest serves as the cradle of marine life and sanctuary to various species of fish, one of nature's most interesting habitats. Carrascal bay is threatened by sedimentation from the on-going mining operation which also translate to a threat to our livelihood in the coastal areas as well as the food survival of the community,” said Ramon Ellorico, a fisherman.

The people of Carrascal are self-supported by fishing and farming with a population of approximately 13,000 people distributed in 16 villages.

Today, residents of Cantilan are also alarmed after Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) issued a mining permit inside their critical watershed area.

A town dubbed as the rice granary in Surigao del Sur is at stake.

The Red Mountain or iron mountain reminds the people of its majestic height and abundance which serves as the backdrop of every farm lots and fishing grounds in the community. Once it’s gone, it’s like killing the farmers and the fisherfolk of their survival. (Carl Cesar C. Rebuta)