KMJS investigates mining in Sierra Madre and the controversial Monterrazas de Cebu

From 2003 to 2020, Sierra Madre in Luzon lost forests the size of almost 6,000 football fields. This is not just due to illegal logging, but also a large mining operation within its mountains.

According to a report on "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," there are two metallic mines in Sierra Madre in Isabela, with Dinapigue Mining Corporation being one of the nickel mining sites. It is located in Barangay Dimaluade.

Residents expressed mixed opinions on "KMJS," with one saying that the mining site provides livelihood and can help support families.

The barangay captain admitted that while he was against it initially, he eventually stopped complaining.

"Tutol kami noon. Kaya lang nu'ng hinihiling namin na project nagbibigay sila kaya hindi na kami umiimik."

["We were against it before. But when we asked for a project, they would provide it, so we stopped speaking up."]

"Tapos 'yung mga bakod namin sila ang nagbibigay. Sila ang nagbabakod. Mga school namin, naipapatayo. 'Yung mga mahihirap, umangat din nang kaunti. Makakapagpaaral ng anak," the barangay captain added.

[They provided fences for us. They constructed our schools. The poor residents' lives also improved a little bit. They could afford to send their children to school."]

Rogelio, a former mine employee, approved of the mining in their barangay, saying that workers were promised benefits.

However, when he turned into a senior citizen and left mining for farming, he was faced with the negative impacts.

He said the water that flowed through their irrigation turned red because it was mixed with laterite from the mining sites.

"'Yung basura ng mina, umaabot sa aming mga tubigan. 'Pag umabot sa aming mga tubigan, nababansot 'yung aming mga pananim," he said. "Mayroong parang lumalason sa palay. Another abono uli para sumigla 'yung pananim."

["The mine's waste reaches our water sources. When that happens, our crops become stunted. It's as if something is poisoning the rice, so we have to use more fertilizer just to make the crops grow."]

Their harvest decreased from 100 bins to 70 in turn, decreasing their income.

In 2007, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, then known as the Platinum Group Metals Corporation, was issued a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA). This is an agreement between the government and a mining company that allows them to explore, develop, and produce mineral resources in an area.

It was passed to the Geogen Corporation in 2009, then the Dinapigue Mining Corporation (DMC) in 2015. They were approved to undergo mining exploration activities in Isabela for 25 years or until 2032.

The Alyansa Tigil Mina, however, said DMC's mining operations have irreversible effects.

Monterrazas de Cebu

While the provinces surrounding Sierra Madre are protected from the typhoons, Barangay Guadalupe in Cebu City experienced severe flooding when Typhoon Tino made landfall in the Philippines earlier this month.

Resident Lucilo "Gigo" Getubig recalled, "Ang lakas ng ulan tapos, nag-leaking na, lumabas 'yung tubig. Wala na kaming nagawa. Mabilis ang pag ano ng tubig. Akala ko mahina lang, nung bumuhos na ang laki pala ng tubig."

["The rain was heavy, and then it started leaking, the water came out. We couldn't do anything. The water rose quickly. I thought it was just minor, but when it poured, the amount of water was actually huge."]

He added that his niece Samantha is still cleaning the mud left from the flooding.

The mud was mixed with weathered limestones, stones with faded colors often used in construction. Residents say these come from the high-end subdivision built on the side of a shaved mountain near their barangay, the controversial Monterrazas de Cebu.

This hillside development in Barangay Guadalupe comprises 200 hectares.

It was in 2006 when Genvi Development Corporation started work on the project. It was given an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas. To build it, a part of the mountain had to be shaved.

The project was temporarily stopped when it was issued a cease and desist order in 2008 and 2011 because it caused mudslides and flash floods in the area.

But in 2019, 8990 Holdings, Inc. acquired Genvi Development Corporation and continued construction of Monterrazas de Cebu.

In 2023, 8990 Holdings, Inc. acquired the subsidiary company Mont Property Group, which focuses on high-end, luxury, and premium developments in the area. One project is the 19-storey condominium called The Rise at Monterrazas, with a design inspired by the Banaue Rice Terraces.

The project continues to be met with controversy to this day. One of the developers is content creator and civil engineer Slater Young.

In a 2023 vlog, he said he is confident that the studies of their researchers and engineers have found that it will not have bad effects on the environment.

"Our team is composed of the most experienced architects, competent engineers, and sustainability experts. We went through about 300 revisions just to make sure that we plan and build this accordingly," Slater said.

He added that the condo will have environmentally-conscious features. "We do share the same concerns for the environment and we will continue to listen."

The project was inaugurated in November 2024 and was given an ECC that same year. 

Amid the revived controversy due to recent flooding, "KMJS" tried to get Slater's statement but he is yet to reply.

The Rise at Monterrazas is still under construction, but it now has a new detention ponds and a clubhouse. Some condos are also already in use.

"Very huge 'yung clubhouse. So hindi ko na po 'yan pinirmahan. Pero malaki ang tulong din ng Monterrazas. But then again, kailangan 'yung safety ng bawat isa," the barangay captain said.

["The clubhouse is very huge. So I did not sign that document anymore. But Monterrazas is also a big help. But then again, the safety of everyone is necessary."]

"Before, Sir, parang forest po 'yung area na 'yan. Pero ngayon, makikita mo, parang wala ng kahoy. Puro na bahay," she added.

["Before, Sir, that area was like a forest. But now, you can see, there are almost no trees left. It's all houses."]

Residents say that the flooding has worsened. Jeffrey, an employee at a car repair shop, claimed that the flood came from the detention ponds.

"2011 nabahaan na talaga kami rito," Samantha said. "Andiyan pa din 'yan diyan, ang amin lang, sa patuloy nilang pagbakbak diyan hindi kayo nag-iisip, hindi kayo nakokonsensya sa inyong mga ginagawa kasi kami pa rin ang agrabyado."

["We were really flooded here in 2011. It's still happening, and all we're saying is that their continued excavation there, they don't feel guilty about what they're are doing because we are still the ones at a disadvantage."]

The barangay captain said that they're "very worried" about the situation and, "Maraming affected na areas po."

Due to the complaints and controversies, the DENR investigated the project and discovered multiple environmental violations: the project did not follow the amended ECC and discharge permit.

On November 5, the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Guadalupe launched a resolution to investigate the detention ponds and drainage systems of Monterrazas.

"First quarter of this year, nakita na namin 'yung development na grabe na development. So we went to DENR kung may permit sila. So in-approach namin si Atty. Romeo Botolano from DENR o CENRO ba 'yun? Na kung puwede investigate nila. Kasi nakita namin from here na grabe na ang development," the barangay captain said.

["In the first quarter of this year, we saw a massive development. So we went to the DENR to check if they have a permit. So we approached Atty. Romeo Botolano from DENR—or was it CENRO?—to see if they could investigate. Because we saw from here that the development had already been massive."]

On November 7, the Joint Inspection, Investigation, and Assessment Team, DENR Region 7, EMB, MGB, PENRO Cebu, CENRO Cebu, the local Cebu government, and Barangay Guadalupe government held a meeting. The following day, the Guadalupe Barangay Council launched a motion for a full-scale technical investigation to study the possible contributions of retention ponds and drainage of Monterrazas to flooding.

Then on November 10, the Environmental Management Bureau issued a notice of violation and stoppage order for the project.

The DENR, CENRO, and Barangay Guadalupe have also learned that a number of the water retention ponds are damaged or heavily silted, which affects its capacity.

Additionally, more than 700 trees were cut in the area, and only 11 are left.

The Monterrazas de Cebu issue was also investigated by the Senate in a Blue Ribbon Committee on November 14.

DENR Region 7 stopped operations on the project following the release of the stoppage order. The DENR also formally announced that the developer did not follow the Forestry Law, Philippine Environmental Impact Statement Law, and Clean Water Act.

In the DENR's official announcement, they said it is possible that the investigation will reveal violations in the ECC conditions and environmental regulations. The project may receive a suspension, fine, or other legal remedies.

Gigo said, "Ang hirap kapag mahirap ka kasi ikaw ang matatamaan kasi wala ka namang panangga."

["It's hard when you are poor because you are the one who will be affected, since you have no defense."]

Samantha expressed anger at the situation.

"Kasi walang silang sinabi. Wala silang... kahit magsabi lang sila na ang baba mabahaan, wala. Kami, hanggang sa tingin na lang na, 'Hala, mabuti pa ang Monterazzas na ano na. Dito na naman 'yan sa atin, baha na naman.'"

["They didn't inform us of anything. They didn't even say that the low-lying area will be flooded. We just look on and say, 'Oh my, the Monterrazas thing is better than us. Here it is again, the flood is here again for us.'"]

She added, "Ito na, ito na ang resulta ng gawa nila. Wala na kaming magagawa kasi sinimulan na nila. Kami ang kawawa, kami ang mababahaan. Sila wala silang problema. Hindi nila inisip ang mga nasa baba kung sino ang maapektuhan."

["This is the result of their work. We can't do anything anymore because they already started it. We are the ones who suffer, we are the ones who will be flooded. They have no problem. They did not think about those living downstream would be affected."] —JCB, GMA Integrated News