Homonhon Island under threat: House urge to investigate Mining activities

By Miriam G.Desacada

Borongan City–Eastern Samar Representative Christopher Sheen Gonzales has called for a congressional inquiry into the devastating effects of large-scale nickel and chromite mining on Homonhon Island, a historic site in his home province. Gonzales warned that the mining activities pose significant environmental and social risks.

Gonzales emphasized that nearly 88% of Homonhon Island’s 7,400 hectares are already covered by mineral production sharing agreements granted to five mining companies.

He criticized the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, saying it prioritizes corporate interests over community rights and environmental protection ² ¹.The congressman urged the government to take urgent action to address the issue, citing the need for

Gonzales’s call for inquiry has been supported by local residents, church leaders, and environmental groups, who have long been advocating for the protection of Homonhon Island’s fragile ecosystem and rich cultural heritage .

In House Resolution No. 234, Gonzales urged the House committees on natural resources, ecology, and local government, to jointly conduct the inquiry, citing the urgent need to ensure responsible resource management, protect the rights and welfare of local communities, and preserve the island’s historical and ecological integrity.

“Homonhon is not only rich in natural resources but also steeped in history as the first landing site of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Decades of unchecked mining threaten to erase both its heritage and its future,” Gonzales warned.

Gonzales cited alarming reports of deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, threats to biodiversity—including the critically endangered Philippine cockatoo—and health issues among residents caused by the mining activities.

Equally troubling, Gonzales added, are the social and economic hardships experienced by Homonhon communities, including the loss of livelihoods in farming and fishing, unfulfilled promises of development projects, and the persistent lack of basic services despite years of mining operations.

The resolution also raises concerns about allegations of mining firms encroaching beyond their concession areas, foreign nationals engaging in illegal operations, and companies previously penalized for environmental violations resuming activities with little transparency.

Gonzales wants the inquiry to cover, among others, the assessment of environmental damage, the impact of mining on communities’ health and livelihoods, compliance with environmental and mining laws, revenue sharing, historical preservation, and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight.

“The voices of Homonhon residents, environmental advocates, and church leaders must be heard. Congress has a duty to ensure that mining operations are lawful, sustainable, and beneficial to the people—not destructive,” Gonzales stressed.

The resolution mandates the concerned committees to invite relevant government agencies, local officials, community groups, and mining companies to testify. Findings and recommendations will form the basis for future legislation to strengthen environmental protection and ensure equitable benefit-sharing for host communities.

Homonhon, with a land area of 105 square kilometers, holds a significant place in world history.

In March 1521, Magellan, during his first circumnavigation of the globe, made landfall on Homonhon with his three surviving ships – Trinidad, Concepcion, and Victoria.

His crew stayed on the island for a week to rest and replenish supplies before sailing on to Limasawa, Butuan, and eventually Cebu – where Magellan was slain in the Battle of Mactan.

Today, Homonhon is home to about 15,000 residents spread across eight barangays. The island is part of the Municipality of Guiuan.

Gonzales’s call for an investigation came shortly after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act No. 12253, or the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act.

The new law streamlines the country’s fragmented mining tax system, establishing a fairer, more transparent, and rationalized fiscal framework for large-scale metallic mining operations.

Under the law, disparate royalty structures tied to various mining agreements are replaced with a unified margins-based royalty system of 1 to 5 percent for operations outside mineral reservations, and a fixed 5 percent royalty on gross output for those within reservations.

It also imposes a tiered windfall profits tax of 1 to 10 percent when income margins exceed 30 percent, introduces a ring-fencing rule to ensure each mining project is taxed independently, and enforces tighter fiscal controls such as a 2:1 debt-to-equity cap.

The reform is expected to boost government revenues by an additional ₱6.26 billion annually.

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