Homonhon island residents urge halt to “chocolate pool” mining operation
by Paola P. Rigor
Locals from Homonhon Island are calling for the cessation of the mining operation that resulted in a ‘Chocolate Pool’ in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, where Ferdinand Magellan landed in 1521.
The mining operations of two mining firms paid the government PHP 182.6 million in excise tax in 2023. Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, Municipal Mayor of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, defended the mining operations on Homonhon Island, stating that both the government and the residents have benefited from them. She claimed that 2,300 residents were employed and have generated income and taxes for the government.
“I am for responsible mining. I understand the issue of the environment, but if people have no jobs, the rest of the environment will be destroyed: illegal fishing, logging, etcetera. Now that there is mining in Homonhon (an island belonging to Guiuan), some people from [mainland] Guiuan are already working there,” Mayor Gonzales-Kwan said.
The mayor also debunked the circulating photo of the said mining area, stating that the photo released by Inquirer.net in a story is not accurate and claiming that only less than 10% of Homonhon’s 10,000 hectares are being mined.
As of January 16, 2024, the island is being operated by four mining companies: Chromite King Inc.; Mt. Sinai Mining Exploration and Development Corp.; Necklace Inc.; and the Emir Mineral Resources Corp.
In June 2012, Mayor Gonzales-Kwan was determined to push responsible mining in their area, stating, “I believe there are economic benefits that responsible mining may bring to the province. The present mining law (Republic Act 7942) has stringent provisions in ensuring that mining operations should be done responsibly under the principle of sustainable development.”
“No amount is worthy enough for the damages, bad effects, and destruction the mining has brought to the island,” said Daipen Montes, Board of Director of the anti-mining group Homonhon Environmental Advocates and Rights Defender Inc.