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Elizabeth Manggol, coordinator of Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns, shows tailings bags rotting on the banks of the Mogpog River on Marinduque Island, the Philippines. Photo: David Sproule/OxfamAUS
Fast facts
- Resource: Copper (with gold and silver by-products)
- Mine locations: two locations on Marinduque Island, the Philippines
- Mining owner/operator: Barrick Gold Corporation
- Affected communities: Communities from Calancan Bay, Mogpog, Boac and around the mine site
Marinduque Island, the Philippines
The situation
The Marcopper mine operated under various forms of ownership from 1967 to 1996 when it closed. Placer Dome had a significant interest in the mine and was involved in its operation until the mine's closure. Initially the mine operated as a joint venture between Placer Development Limited and President Marcos of the Philippines. Placer Dome has since been bought by Barrick Gold Corporation which is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
For more than 20 years, Marcopper mine spewed millions of tonnes of toxic waste into Marinduque Island's sea and polluted its rivers. As a result, people have lost their health, livelihoods and some have died.
The history of the mine is tragic. In 1993 a dam at the mine collapsed, releasing a flood of toxic silt and water. The disaster killed two children, destroyed homes, drowned livestock and contaminated farmland. Three years later a mine drainage tunnel burst, releasing three million tonnes of waste into the river and causing the worst man-made disaster in the country's history.
Although the mine closed almost a decade ago, communities throughout Marinduque report that their daily lives and environment are still affected by the mine. Most people affected by the mine have received no or only very little compensation.
In 2005, the provincial government of Marinduque filed a lawsuit against the mine owner Placer Dome seeking to hold the company accountable for damaging Marinduque Island's environment, economy, and health of its citizens. In 2006, a motion was granted to the province of Marinduque that the mine's current owners, Barrick Gold Corporation, be joined as a defendant in a civil case filed originally against Placer Dome. The case is continuing.
Oxfam's response
The Mining Ombudsman has conducted numerous site investigations, commissioned extensive scientific studies and actively campaigned to give voice to the concerns of the Marinduque community. The scientific studies, conducted in 2004, showed that almost 10 years after the mine's closure, local rivers polluted with run-off from the mine contain levels of cadmium, copper and lead at levels that present a potential hazard to human health. Other heavy metals were found at levels that pose a potential hazard to aquatic life.
In April 2005, Oxfam Australia – in partnership with Legal Rights and Natural Resources Centre-Kasama sa kalikasan and Mine Watch Canada – launched the ‘Face Up, Clean Up, Pay Up' campaign. This campaign outlined the Marinduque case, asking Placer Dome to accept responsibility for the devastation its activities caused to Calancan Bay, Mogpog River and Boac. Through the campaign, the people of Marinduque asked Placer Dome to face up to its responsibility, clean up its mess and pay what it owes.
The Marinduque case clearly demonstrates the need for legal standards – ranging from extraterritorial regulations to the extension of international human rights obligations – which hold companies to account, no matter where they operate.
Find out more
- Read our full case report (PDF 3.4MB)
- Read the Mogpog River Water Quality Report (PDF 2.1MB)
- See the Marinduque photo slide show
- Watch the "Out of Sight Out of Mined" video
- Assessment of the effects of Acid Mine Drainage on Mogpog River Ecosystem, Marinduque, Philippines, and Possible Impacts on Human Communities (2005) (PDF 3.8MB)
- The report prepared by Dr Emelina G. Regis, Director, Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research Ateneo de Naga University, with assistance from Oxfam Australia, describes the impact of acid mine drainage on the Mogpog River.