One mining exploration has brought all eight barangays of this town together in opposition, with local councils warning that disturbance in one part of its subwatersheds could cascade the effect on water sources, farming, and other local livelihoods.

CARMEN, Surigao del Sur – One mining exploration has brought all eight barangays of this town together in opposition, with local councils warning that disturbance in one part of its subwatersheds could cascade the effect on water sources, farming, and other local livelihoods.

Barangays Antao, Cancavan, Esperanza, Hinapoyan, Puyat, San Vicente, Santa Cruz, and Poblacion Carmen each passed resolutions expressing “strong opposition” to the application of Amalgamated Iron Works, Inc. (AIWI) to explore for nickel deposits.

The resolutions, adopted in July, backed the municipal government’s July 28 resolution rejecting the application. The town also issued a manifesto during a public hearing attended by residents, advocates, and government officials, declaring: “Do not destroy the resource base that has sustained us through the years. No to mining in Carmen.”

Protecting an interconnected watershed

The proposed exploration lies within the Suwahid-Daan subwatershed in Barangay Hinapoyan, one of the several interconnected water systems protected under Carmen’s 2025 ordinance, which the Provincial Government adopted the same year.

The ordinance identifies Suwahid?Daan as feeding irrigation in Esperanza and San Vicente, Hubason as supplying multiple barangays and supporting eco?tourism, Agasan?Cadilotan flowing into the Tago River system, and Bayoyo-Panaghuyan as supplying drinking water and irrigation extending to another town.

The Buayan sub-watershed in Barangay San Vicente has an added layer of protection as part of the Carac-an Watershed Forest Reserve under Presidential Proclamation 1747.

All councils cited the constitutional right to a balanced ecology and consultation requirements under the Local Government Code in opposing the application.

Farming under pressure

These water systems support Carmen’s main livelihoods, including crop (coconut, corn, and rice) farming, livestock, and poultry raising.

Farmer Josefina Mainit, 54, said agriculture is already becoming harder to sustain. Both of her rice crops failed last year because of erratic weather, while low buying prices further squeezed their income.

“We don’t want mining here because it will affect farmers. We will lose our source of livelihood, and it will be hard for us to survive,” said Mainit, a mother of five.

The Mainit couple tills two hectares of irrigated land in Purok 5 as tenants and has returned to poultry raising to augment their income. Mainit previously served as a barangay secretary, while her husband worked as a mining driver. He did not seek another job at any mining site after their contract ended because of illness and concerns of dust exposure.

A fight that predates the application

Carmen’s resistance to mining is not new. In 2020, the Sangguniang Bayan issued a moratorium on mining but failed to secure provincial support. It has also continued to oppose attempts to operate illegal small-scale mining operations on its land.

The eight barangay resolutions add their support to water-protection advocates in neighboring Cantilan town who are using the same legal protection to stop mining in the province’s vital water systems. (RVO)

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