By Chris V. Panganiban
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Environmental groups, water officials and other stakeholders have questioned the decision of the Sangguniang Bayan of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, to interpose “no objection” to proposed tree-cutting and earth-balling activities of Marcventures Mining and Development Corp. (MMDC), days after opposition to the proposal was aired during a public hearing.
The council adopted Resolution No. 237-2026 on July 27, covering proposed special tree-cutting and earth-balling activities over about 47.10 hectares in Barangay Cabangahan as preparatory work for MMDC’s mining operations.
The resolution came five days after a July 22 public hearing in Barangay Magosilom, where representatives of the Cantilan Water District (CWD), the Church, civil society groups and other stakeholders opposed the proposed activities.
Vice Mayor Rodrigo L. Eleazar presided over the hearing, while Councilor Jimbo Luarez, chair of the Sangguniang Bayan committee on environment, facilitated the discussion.
Representatives of MMDC, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Office in Cantilan, CWD, civil society organizations and members of the public attended. Stakeholders who expressed their positions, apart from MMDC representatives, opposed the issuance of the Special Tree Cutting Permit and authority to conduct earth-balling activities in an area identified with the Carac-an watershed.
Eleazar later reiterated his support for protecting the watershed.
Presidential Proclamation No. 1747 declared portions of the Alamio, Buyaan, Carac-an and Panikian rivers and Sipangpang Falls as critical watershed forest reserves covering a combined 43,601 hectares in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte.
Environmental coalition Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) criticized the council’s no-objection resolution, saying it ran against sentiments expressed during the public hearing.
“The people of Cantilan have spoken: NO to tree cutting. Yet our local government chose to issue a no-objection to MMDC’s application,” said Rick John Guillarte of ATM’s Youth Network and Cantilan’s Baywatch Foundation-Youth.
CWD also maintained its opposition, citing concerns over the long-term security of Cantilan’s water sources.
CWD General Manager Vicente Cirilo A. Iriberri said concerns regarding water security, the expiration of MMDC’s mining agreement in 2027 and the significance of Proclamation No. 1747 had not been adequately addressed.
“This is not simply about cutting trees. It is about protecting our water source. Water is life,” CWD said.
Emma Hotchkiss of ATM’s Council of Leaders and Baywatch Foundation said the council was “passing the buck to the DENR,” which will decide on the necessary permits.
She urged DENR to apply what ATM described as the “No Rehab, No Expansion” principle.
Hotchkiss claimed MMDC had disturbed about 600 hectares, with around 200 hectares rehabilitated and 400 hectares still requiring rehabilitation. These figures are claims attributed to ATM and have not been independently verified in the materials provided.
MMDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly listed Marcventures Holdings Inc. (MHI).
Major shareholders of MHI include Bright Kindle Resources and Investments Inc. and RYM Business Management Corp., which have been reported by national media as linked to the family of Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
However, Martin Romualdez himself is not listed as a director, officer or substantial shareholder of Marcventures Holdings in its June 30, 2026 public ownership report.
The Sangguniang Bayan’s no-objection resolution is not itself a tree-cutting permit.
MMDC is still required to obtain permits and approvals from DENR and other agencies. The resolution also prohibits tree cutting, earth-balling, excavation or clearing within 20 meters on either side of rivers, creeks, streams, springs and other natural waterways.
For ATM and CWD, the dispute centers on whether the opposition expressed during the July 22 hearing was adequately reflected in the council’s decision and whether the proposed activities could affect the long-term protection of Cantilan’s watershed and water supply.
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