Solon wants House probe on ‘mining threats’ to Homonhon Island

House Assistant Minority Leader and Eastern Samar Representative Christopher Sheen Gonzales has called for a congressional inquiry of several committees into the impact of nickel and chromite mining operations on Homonhon Island, as he flagged grave environment damage and social displacement in the area.

Under House Resolution 234, Gonzales called on the House Committees on Natural Resources, Ecology, and Local Government to conduct the inquiry, as he cited the urgent need to ensure responsible resource management.

“Homonhon is not only rich in natural resources but also steeped in history as the first landing site of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Decades of unchecked mining threaten to erase both its heritage and its future,” he said.

According to Gonzales, the inquiry should cover the assessment of environmental damage, the impact of mining on the health and livelihood of communities, compliance with environmental and mining laws, and revenue sharing, among others.

In his resolution, Gonzales noted reports of deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, threats to biodiversity, and health issues among residents, as well as the loss of livelihood in farming and fishing, the lack of basic services, and the unfulfilled promises of development projects.

He likewise flagged concerns about allegations of mining firms encroaching beyond their concession areas, foreign nationals involved in illegal operations, and firms that have been previously penalized that have resumed activities with little transparency.

“The voices of Homonhon residents, environmental advocates, and church leaders must be heard. Congress has a duty to ensure that mining operations are lawful, sustainable, and beneficial to the people—not destructive,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales’s resolution comes after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed into law the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act, which aims to simplify and rationalize the fiscal regime by removing tax distinctions based on mining agreements. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News