Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales seeks a congressional inquiry into the “destructive impact of large-scale nickel and chromite mining operations” on Homonhon Island, warning of grave environmental damage and social displacement in the historic site in his home province.
Gonzales filed House Resolution No. 234 urging the committees on natural resources, ecology, and local government to jointly conduct the probe, 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 said in a statement.
He also 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.
