Dear Editor,

I am from Cantilan, Surigao del Sur and I would like to let you know that whenever I go home to my beloved birthplace, I am saddened by the sight of the ugly destruction of the mountains due to soil extraction by mining companies, resulting to massive siltation of the rivers and seashores. This really is a very serious problem now. The waters around the area from the town of Claver, Surigao del Norte to the towns of Carrascal and Cantilan in Surigao del Sur are now murky. When the sun is bright, the roads are very dusty and when it rains, even a little, the roads are hard to pass because of the mud and bumpy condition of the roads. It is a good distance from Claver to Cantilan, maybe about 60 kilometers. I could imagine how difficult now for the people to be traveling around there. Every time I go home (I do it at least once a year) I have to convince myself that I can do it. I discovered that the fish catch now is significantly reduced due to the destruction of fish sanctuary and the spawning ground along the sea coast. This is the usual complaint of the small fishermen in my hometown. I also noticed that the price of fish sold in Cantilan market is now more expensive than in Manila.

Mining companies are really destroying Mother Nature. The mountains, the rivers, the seas and the weather are not anymore what they used to be. Mining companies flatten the mountains and the centuries old mancono trees which are plentiful in the mountains of that area that I mentioned are being cut down or destroyed. I do not know what is the result of this unabated forest denudation and mountain destruction of my beloved homeland. Who will tell them that what they are doing is not contributing to any good of the area and the environment. I heard that the income of the town of Carrascal has increased but where does that money go? Money cannot buy good health and economic prosperity of the affected people by this mining industry.

Tito Y. Maratas, Jr., MSC
New Manila, Quezon City