By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The mayor of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur has endorsed a proposed ordinance that would prohibit mining in portions of the town’s protected watershed areas, a policy move that could redefine a long-running conflict between local communities and a nickel mining firm operating near key water sources.
Mayor Rodrigo L. Eleazar transmitted the draft ordinance to the Sangguniang Bayan on January 7, weeks after civic groups and residents submitted the proposal to his office. Vice Mayor Liberty G. Cale confirmed receipt of the endorsement and said the measure would be referred to the council’s Committee on Environment.
Eleazar said the proposed ban was driven by persistent concerns over mining activities in watershed areas that supply irrigation water to downstream farms and feed river systems flowing toward nearby coastal communities.
Speaking as a farmer, the mayor emphasized that protecting upstream forests is critical to sustaining agriculture and safeguarding the town’s water security.
“This is a big step in our call to restore our farmlands in the downstream and protect our environment, especially our watershed areas,” Eleazar said in a social media post.
He also linked the policy direction to climate resilience, citing the flooding caused by Tropical Depression Verbena on Nov. 24 last year as a reminde
r of how environmental degradation can worsen the effects of extreme weather events. He said stricter land-use policies and stronger enforcement of environmental regulations were needed to prevent similar disasters.
The proposed ordinance comes amid long-standing opposition to the operations of Marcventures Mining & Development Corporation (MMDC), whose nickel mining tenements extend across parts of Cantilan and neighboring municipalities.
Emma Hotchkiss, a local environmental advocate, told Inquirer in an intervire that residents have been pushing for years to stop mining activities within Cantilan’s protected watershed areas, citing risks to water sources and the rights of indigenous communities.
She claimed that MMDC and its affiliate, Bright Green Resources, pose a serious threat to the watershed and alleged that permit extensions were processed without adequate consultation with local stakeholders.
Hotchkiss also raised concerns over the reported extension of MMDC’s mining permit until 2027 by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office 13 in Surigao City.
Portions of the mining area overlap with watersheds covered by Presidential Proclamation No. 1747, which declared several river systems in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte as watershed forest reserves.
Opposition to mining in the area dates back to at least 2010, when residents began organizing petitions warning that operations in the watershed could endanger water supply, irrigation systems, fisheries, and biodiversity.
That same year, a Regional Trial Court issued a Temporary Environmental Protection Order halting mining activities within the protected watershed, triggering years of legal and regulatory disputes.
Protests intensified in 2013, with residents, church groups, and environmental advocates staging demonstrations at the Mines and Geosciences Bureau regional office in Surigao City over the non-enforcement of the court order.
Indigenous communities in Barangay Cabangahan also mounted human barricades that temporarily blocked access to mining sites.
A civil case seeking a permanent ban on mining in the watershed was decided in favor of MMDC in mid-2025, allowing the company to continue operations under its existing permits.
Despite the ruling, opposition has persisted, with residents continuing to petition against mining in Barangays Lobo and Cabangahan over concerns about water security and long-term environmental impact.
In earlier public statements, Marcventures has maintained that its operations comply with environmental laws and permit conditions, and that its mining areas fall outside zones where mining is strictly prohibited.
The company has also said it implements environmental safeguards and site rehabilitation measures as required by national regulators.
Eleazar said he expects the Sangguniang Bayan to act in the town’s interest, stressing that the proposed ordinance is intended to protect shared natural resources and promote the common good.
“This will benefit not just a few, but the entire community,” he said.
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