Name: Venice Shanelle D. Espinosa Grade 5 St.

Elizabeth

“MINING”

Mining is the process of collecting minerals in the ground. The

history of mining in the Philippines dates back to the pre-colonial period
and continues to be a major backbone of the country’s economy. Our
country is the fifth most mineral-rich country in the whole world and is
home to the largest copper-gold deposit. Commercial mining was first
born in the Philippines with the Benguet Mine as the first modern gold
mine in 1907.

Mining is a source of local employment and contributes to local

and regional economies through enormous earnings by exportation and
private contracts. It also brings about energy by the extraction of
essential resources such as natural gas, oil, coal, and minerals.
However, the process of mining can fully exhaust a site’s natural
resources, contaminate and pollute the environment and water sources,
and negatively impact the health of those living within the area.

The Marcopper mining disaster is one example of the worst

mining and environmental event that occurred in the country which led to
the discharge of toxic mine waste into the Makulapnit-Boac river system
and caused flash floods in the near areas.

To avoid the adverse effects of mining, the importance of

proactively restoring closed mines should be emphasized to mining
companies and the government. Both parties have to be vigilant in taking
every measure to protect open mines from further destroying the
environment.

November 20, 2020