IBALANGIBOG SA BILOG NA MUNDO, ORAGON AN BICOLANO! KAYA TA AN RESPONSABLENG PAGMIMINA SA RAPU-RAPU!

THE NEWSWEEK
VOL. 1 NO. 8 The OFFICIAL COMPANY PUBLICATION OF THE RAPU-RAPU POLYMETALLIC PROJECT AUGUST 1-13, 2006

Amidst a charged atmosphere where anti-mining students

abound, the logical presentation of facts prompted school offi-
cials to laud the visiting RRMI/RRPI executive. “We con-
gratulate Lafayette for courageously facing a hostile audience
who has institutionally voiced out anti-mining (sentiments) in
Rapu-Rapu”, Engr. Virgilio Perdigon, vice president for Aca-
demic Affairs, Aquinas University of Legaspi said in the fo-
rum. Mrs. Nenia Nieto, adviser of the Political Science Society
which sponsored the forum, thanked the RRMI/RRPI and the
DENR representatives for having provided facts and data that
provided balance to the ongoing debate and controversy raised
against the mining company.

The audience of more than 300 black-clad students and faculty

members of the Department of Social Sciences, Political Sci-
ence and other courses packed the Daragang Magayon hall;
still many had to be refused entrance. It was the first time, af-
ter the spill incident, that the company was invited by the aca-
deme in the whole of Albay Province to air its side to the stu-
dent body. It was also the first time in Legaspi City that repre-
sentatives of both sides would be together in a symposium.
The forum, held on August 4, 2006, was part of the celebration
of “Himig Tanggulan sa Malayang Talastasan” during the
“Buwan ng Wika” and was therefore conducted in Filipino. It
sought to inform the Aquinian community about the Mining
Act of 1995 and the Mining Operations and its Effects in
Rapu-Rapu.
AUL students pack the Daragang Magayon Hall to attend forum on mining.
Mr. Manny A. Agcaoili, president , Rapu-Rapu Processing,
Inc. discussed “Mining Operations and Its Effects in Rapu-
Rapu”. In his speech, he emphasized the exhaustive efforts un-
dertaken by the company to comply with all mandated require-
ments and to mitigate negative effects to the environment such
as siltation and AMD, as well as the many direct and indirect
benefits of the project. Other speakers in the symposium in-
cluded Engr. Guillermo Molina IV from the Mines and Geo-
sciences Bureau who talked about the salient features of the
Mining Act of 1995; Bart Rayco of Karapatan who provided
the counterpart with “Why the Mining Act of 1995 Must Be
Repealed”; and Nong Rongasa from the liaison Office of the
Local Government of Legaspi City who presented the RRFFC
arguments to “Why Mining Operations in Rapu-Rapu Must Be
Stopped”.

The 20-minute open forum provided the opportunity for Mr.

Agcaoili and Engr. Molina to address questions raised regard-
ing mine rehabilitation and socio-economic benefits to direct/
indirect impact barangays in Rapu-Rapu. At this point, Engr.
Perdigon presented the contrary view of NGOs using the argu-
ments of Dr. Regis and Greenpeace.

It was a powerful kick-off in the series of student symposia

that the company plans to do in Albay, following similar suc-
Pres. Manny Agcaoili Mr. Guillermo “Danny” Molina cessful fora recently conducted in schools in Sorsogon.

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VOL. I NO. 8 page 2 THE ISLAND NEWSWEEK AUGUST 1-13, 2006

A FIRST EVER ENVIRONMENTAL SHOWCASE

It was shrugged off by a member of the Rapu-Rapu Fact Find-
ing Commission as just a “for show only” project. To the ordi-
nary person’s eye, it looks like a rice paddy similar to the rice
terraces of the Mountain Provinces, albeit too small in com-
parison. But to the expert, it is comparable to the world’s best
design of a natural wetlands system which can effectively trap
dissolved metals in wastewater. This is, in fact, a one-of-a-
kind environmental showcase in the Philippines
The wetlands constructed at the foot of the Polishing Pond
(PP) the environmental area, if viewed from the spillway of
the PP, is a picture perfect land structure that has for its wet-

January 2006
February 2006
May 2006
lands is a background the Pacific Ocean and on a clear day,
sky blue and on its mirrored surface. The white cotton clouds
reflected simple but ingenious design of geotextile, coconut
husk, coconut peat and sandy loam layer as medium for grow-
ing Typha Augustofolia reeds, or locally named “tambo”
whose root system can effectively trap dissolved metals in
wastewater.
Its construction started in late January this year and became
completely operational by June 2006. The wetlands system re-
quired at least 12,000 sacks of coconut husk bought from
Bgys. Pagcolbon, Malobago, Binosawan, Linao and Sta Bar-
bara. - CBP
July 2006

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EDITORIAL BOARD Managing Editor: Cecille A. Calleja Con-

1 & 2 & " 3 & tributors: Carmelita B. Pacis, Arnold A. Guadalupe, Gilberto M.
4 5& . ( 2 6 & Llovit Production: Melanie Valenciano, Kareen Asuncion
&& & Circulation: Melanie Valenciano, Nancy Alipar, C.A.R.E. Dept.