Elroy John “Clink” Hagedorn, son of the late Puerto Princesa mayor and former Palawan 3rd District Rep. Edward Hagedorn, urged national and local agencies to stop issuing new mining permits in the 3rd District, including Puerto Princesa City and Aborlan.
He made the call in a Facebook post accompanied by letters addressed to the DENR Mimaropa Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, and the local government of Aborlan.
“PALAWAN IS NOT UNLIMITED. We simply do not have the land area,” Hagedorn wrote.
“Before I left to visit my son abroad I wrote letters to different agencies. A request to stop issuance of mining permits in Palawan, this includes the 3rd district, which covers Puerto Princesa City and the Municipality of Aborlan. I know it will not end here,” he shared.
The letters attached outline objections to the Long Point Nickel Mining Project of Berong Nickel Corporation in Aborlan, citing Palawan’s ecological status and existing laws.
Hagedorn emphasized Palawan’s vulnerability as a biodiversity hotspot.
“As you already know, the entire province of Palawan is hailed as the Philippines’ Last Ecological Frontier. Its landscape is immensely unique and houses thousands of different species of flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to this side of the world. The people of Palawan depend on its environment to sustain their lives and culture, and mining is an inherently destructive activity that can threaten Palawan and Palawenos,” he said.
He also argued that the project contradicts the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act.
“It is the philosophy of Republic Act No. 7611, otherwise known as the Strategic Environment Plan (SEP) for Palawan Act, to pursue the sustainable development of Palawan. Section 5 thereof provides that sustainable development for this purpose shall be the ‘improvement in the quality of life of its people in the present and future generations through the use of complementary activities of development and conservation that protect life-support ecosystems [xxx-]. With all due respect, mining cannot be construed as a complementary activity of development that will protect life-support ecosystems,” he wrote.
He pointed to the project site’s classification under the SEP, introducing the findings of the Environmental Impact Statement before quoting its key disclosures.
“A copy of the Executive Summary of BNC’s LPNMP Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is available online, and expressly admits that the site of the intended project is by the coast and covers mangrove forests, areas considered as ‘Core Zones’ as per Section 10 of RA 7611. The site is also home to endangered species of flora such as the manggachapui, mangkono, molawin, and pasi. The findings provided in the EIS further observed that more than 40 percent of the fauna in the area are endemic species that can only be found in the Philippines. With respect to the forests within the project site itself, that the project shall cover natural forests or first growth forests as per Section 9 of RA 7611 was not denied,” he said. .
Hagedorn also cited areas closed to mining under the Philippine Mining Act, noting Palawan’s status as both a game refuge and bird sanctuary and a mangrove swamp forest reserve. He framed this by referencing national law before quoting the specific provision.
“To date, RA 7942 remains the national framework for the conduct of mining activities in the country. While it allows mining under certain circumstances, Section 19 of this law is categorical in stating that there are areas closed to mining and these include areas expressly prohibited by law, such as the SEP Act; and old growth or virgin forests, proclaimed watershed forest reserves, wilderness areas, mangrove forests, mossy forests, national parks provincial or municipal forests, parks, greenbelts, game refuge and bird sanctuaries as defined by law and in areas expressly prohibited under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) under Republic Act No. 7586, Department Administrative Order No. 25, series of 1992 and other laws,” he wrote.
Hagedorn also asked the Aborlan local government to deny the project’s endorsement by stressing the LGU’s role.
“We respectfully submit that the local government’s role in the processing of projects such as the LPNMP is not merely ministerial, as it requires the intelligent evaluation, analysis, and action of our good local officials who are expected to be well versed with the needs of the municipality’s inhabitants. Thus, we reiterate our request for you to not endorse the LPNMP,” Hagedorn said.
Hagedorn said he will continue his advocacy for Palawa, adding that his opposition to new mining activities is part of what he considers a duty inherited from his late father.
“This is the least I can do for my Province which is my home, a part of the responsibilities my father passed unto me,” he said.
