Homonhon Island is a 20-kilometer long island east of Samar home to over 8,000 residents. Four hundred ninety-nine years ago, it was also where Ferdinand Magellan and his crew landed and the very location where Catholicism was said to have first spread in the country.
But on the weekend preceding Holy Week last Apr. 4, the residents of the island feared another foreign arrival: a Panama-registered vessel carrying 14 Chinese and four Myanmar nationals.
This is not an unusual sight. After all, mining sites in the vicinity, which have been present on the island for years have had foreign ships fetch mineral deposits for export. But this time the vessel seeking to transport 7,000 metric tons of chromite ore was met with local resistance brought about by fear, as COVID-19 has effectively put the whole region on quarantine barring entry from outside.
According to locals, MV VW Peace was first seen approaching the island on Apr. 4. But even before that, residents have expressed opposition to its scheduled arrival especially since it has been almost two weeks since Eastern Samar was placed on lockdown.
In an interview with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’s media arm CBCP News, Fr. Christian Ofilan of the island’s St. John Baptist Parish said that the people are “anxious and concerned” about the entry of the vessel amid the threat of coronavirus spread.
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On the occasion of the first sighting, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone said his office had already alerted the national government authorities and appealed against its entry.
“I have already alerted the [Philippine National Police], coast guard and quarantine [office] of [Department of Health] to prevent this from docking in Homonhon,” Evardone told CNN Philippines in a text message. “We need to protect the health and safety of my constituents.”
But two days after, MV VW Peace was again spotted near the island unbothered.
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“To reduce COVID-19’s economic damage”
The vessel was commissioned by Techiron Resources Inc., a mining company in Homonhon Island who has been in operation since 2015 after it got its Mineral Production Sharing Agreement approved in 2009.
According to the data from Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region VIII Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), in 2016, it was able to mine 39,500 metric tons of chromite concentrate (sold and in stock) worth $5.1 million in the market, 28,100 metric tons of which were exported for $3.6 million to countries like China, Techiron’s major market.
This significant contribution to the country’s gross domestic product coupled with the taxes, fees and royalties generated and contributed to the economy (which in 2016 reportedly amounted to P14 million) may be one of the reasons why on Monday, Apr. 13, DENR retracted its previous order to deter its shipment of chromite ores. At least according to MGB Director Wilfredo Moncano, who told independent media group founded by veteran reporter Atom Araullo, Fyt, the move was done “Maybe to reduce the economic damage (caused by the COVID-19 pandemic).”
DENR backtracks
The previous order effectively, which suspended Techiron’s mineral ore export permit (MOEP) issued by the Eastern Visayas MGB on Mar. 31, was released on Apr. 7 in a letter addressed to the mining company’s president and signed by DENR-MGB Regional Director Leo Van. Juguan.
In the letter, Techiron was advised to delay the shipment until the “resolution of the crisis.”
But despite the order, residents of the island reportedly still saw the vessel days after. One local interviewed by Fyt said the Chinese and Myanmar nationals were even able to load three truckloads of chromite based on a barangay report.
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It wasn’t also true that after the first warning the ship left, said the residents. It turned out that the ship only moved to another nearby location to escape surveillance. By Monday, Apr. 13, the vessel was reportedly only seven nautical miles (13 km) away from Homonhon.
How did that happen?
The DENR has leveraged a Department of Trade and Industry memorandum approved by Pres. Duterte dated Mar. 20, which “guarantees the unhampered movement of all cargoes and transit of personnel of business establishments allowed to operate during the quarantine period.”
By Apr. 11, Black Saturday, MGB-Region VIII has green-lighted the shipment of Techiron, which has been classified as an exporter that is allowed to continue operations with a skeletal workforce amid regional community quarantine.
The suspension of the mining company’s MOEP was also lifted and is now an amended mineral one export permit subject to further mandatory compliance to all required Inter-Agency Task Force protocols, and other health and safety guidelines.
Profit over citizen protection
In a phone interview with Fyt, Fr. Ofilan, said the whole island is reeling from the decision to allow the vessel into Homonhon. “Nakakadismaya ang desisyon,” Fr. Ofilan said.
“We thought na ipagtatanggol kami ng gobyerno pero parang mas nangunguna ang interes ng foreign nationals.”
Other residents worry that due to the arrival of the foreigners amid the lockdown, their health and safety will be compromised—a costly price to pay especially because medical services are limited on the island. A lone community hospital stands in front of the Casogoran Bay, while the Guiuan municipal center, where more residents of Homonhon buy their food and other needs is hours away and only accessible by boat.
Last week, the Department of Health-Region VIII confirmed its first case of local COVID-19 transmission.
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Gov. Evardone wrote to DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu on Apr. 14, appealing to suspend loading of chromite ore in Homonhon for “humanitarian considerations.”
“As of today, there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Province of Eastern Samar. Our province has done all possible measures to protect our people from this disease,” the appeal read. “This mining operation has given Estehanons anxiety and fear over the possibility that all our efforts to prevent this disease from entering our province will be put down the drain.”
Header photo courtesy of Daipen Montes on Facebook
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Writer: CHRISTIAN SAN JOSE
