By Chris V. Panganiban
Inquirer Mindanao
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — A united Carmen community in Surigao del Sur has taken a firm stand: protect their environment over mining activities.
Residents, local officials, government agencies, church leaders, environmental advocates, farmers, fisherfolk, Indigenous Peoples, and other sectors joined forces on July 28 to declare their opposition to proposed mining exploration activities they believe could threaten the town’s forests, rivers, watersheds, farmlands, and the livelihood of future generations.
The community’s manifesto was later shared by the Local Government Unit of Carmen through its official social media page on August 4.
The declaration came during the Multi-Sectoral Environment and Natural Resources (MNR) Council Meeting called by the LGU of Carmen following the receipt of an exploration permit application covering portions of the municipality. The gathering provided a platform for stakeholders to express their concerns and reaffirm their commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.
Led by Mayor Nestor S. Valeroso, the meeting brought together representatives from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local government units, civil society organizations, religious groups, Indigenous Peoples, farmers, fisherfolk, women’s groups, youth leaders, and other community sectors.
What started as a consultation turned into a collective declaration of resistance, with Carmen residents choosing conservation and sustainable livelihoods over resource extraction.
“Carmen has lived, grown, and progressed without mining. Our future lies in protecting our forests, rivers, farms, and the livelihoods of our people. We believe in agriculture, in our skilled and hardworking citizens, and in sustainable development—not in mining,” Mayor Valeroso said.
Ricardo “Datu Bagyo” Iligan, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) to the municipal council, said a resolution was passed opposing the reported exploration permits of several mining companies identified by residents, including Mega Ore Resources Construction Corporation, MGTC Mining Exploration and Development Inc., Villagold Mining Corporation, and Amalgamated Iron Works Inc.
However, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has yet to confirm whether these companies are the applicants involved in the exploration permit application covering parts of Carmen.
For generations, Carmen’s identity has been rooted in agriculture and its natural resources. Residents emphasized that their food security and livelihoods depend on the protection of rivers, streams, and watershed systems that sustain farming communities.
They cited the importance of Presidential Proclamation No. 1747, which recognizes critical watershed areas requiring protection and conservation. Residents warned that mining operations in environmentally sensitive areas could result in deforestation, soil erosion, siltation, and possible contamination of vital water sources.
The community’s position is also supported by Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Surigao del Sur Resolution No. 153-25, which highlights the need to protect Carmen’s watershed systems, including the Bayan Sub-Watershed, Bayogo-Panogao Sub-Watershed, Sawagan-Daan, Agusan-Cadlayon, and other critical water systems.
For Carmen residents, these watersheds are not merely protected areas—they are lifelines that provide water, sustain agriculture, and secure the future of their families.
Mayor Valeroso stressed that development should not only be measured through economic gains but also through the preservation of biodiversity, environmental integrity, food security, and the welfare of future generations.
For the people of Carmen, the issue is more than an exploration permit. It is a decision on the future they want to protect—a future where forests remain standing, rivers continue to flow, and communities continue to thrive from the land they call home.
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