MANILA, Philippines — House Assistant Minority Leader and Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales has filed a resolution calling for a congressional investigation into the environmental and social impacts of large-scale mining operations on Homonhon Island — a historic site considered the first landing point of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.
In House Resolution No. 234, Gonzales urged the House committees on natural resources, ecology, and local government to conduct a joint inquiry into ongoing nickel and chromite mining activities, warning of severe ecological degradation, biodiversity loss, and displacement of local communities in the island located in his home province.
“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.
The lawmaker cited alarming reports of deforestation, soil erosion, contamination of freshwater sources, and threats to wildlife — including the critically endangered Philippine cockatoo — allegedly caused by mining operations. He also flagged health concerns among residents linked to pollution.
Gonzales noted that communities on the island continue to suffer from poverty, despite years of extractive activity. Residents, he said, have lost their livelihoods in farming and fishing, while promised development projects remain unfulfilled and basic services remain lacking.
The resolution also raised red flags over alleged violations by mining firms, including:
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Encroachment beyond authorized concession areas
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Operations by foreign nationals without proper permits
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Previously sanctioned companies resuming activities with limited transparency or accountability
Gonzales said the inquiry should assess the environmental damage, health and livelihood impacts, compliance with existing laws, revenue-sharing mechanisms, and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight. The probe, he added, should also examine efforts — or the lack thereof — to preserve the island’s historical and ecological value.
“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,” he said.
The resolution directs the relevant committees to summon representatives from concerned government agencies, local governments, affected communities, and mining firms to testify. The findings will inform possible legislative measures to enhance environmental protections and ensure fairer benefit-sharing for host communities.
Historic and Environmental Significance
Homonhon Island, covering 105 square kilometers, is part of the municipality of Guiuan in Eastern Samar and is home to roughly 15,000 residents across eight barangays.
The island holds a unique place in global history. In March 1521, Magellan and his crew landed on Homonhon during the first circumnavigation of the globe. They stayed for a week to rest and resupply before continuing their journey to Limasawa, Butuan, and Cebu, where Magellan would eventually meet his death in the Battle of Mactan.
Mining Reform Context
Gonzales’s call for a congressional probe comes in the wake of the enactment of Republic Act No. 12253, or the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining Act, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The new law aims to rationalize the country’s fragmented mining tax structure by implementing:
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A uniform royalties system of 1% to 5% for mining operations outside mineral reservations, and a fixed 5% royalty on gross output for those within reservations
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A tiered windfall profits tax ranging from 1% to 10% for projects with income margins above 30%
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Ring-fencing rules to ensure each project is taxed independently
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A 2:1 debt-to-equity cap to enhance fiscal discipline
The Department of Finance estimates the reform will generate an additional ₱6.26 billion in annual government revenues.
