An Analysis of the Effects of Marcopper Mine Tailing Spill Incident on the Livelihood of the Fisherfolk at Boac, Marinduque

Date

6-2017

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Jewel Joanna S. Cabardo

Committee Member

Aiza Q. Herrera, Nanette A. Aquino, Agnes T. Banzon, Dinah Pura T. Depositario

Abstract

In 1996, the Marcopper mine tailings spill incident in the Boac River became the largest mining tragedy in the Philippines. The fishing industry, which was greatly dependent on the resources from the river system and coastal areas connected to it, was greatly affected. The study aims mainly to determine the effects on the livelihood of the fisherfolk affected by the Marcopper Mining Corporation mine tailings spill in the Boac River and the adopted coping mechanism to mitigate the problem. Specifically, it aims to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the fisherman affected by the mine tailings spill, analyze the effects of the mine tailings spill incident on the livelihood and the operations of the local fisherfolk from Marcopper Mining Corporation, evaluate the coping mechanisms adapted by the fishermen, and finally, formulate recommendations to improve the welfare of the fishermen affected by the said incident.

Primary data were gathered through interviews among 177 fisherfolk of Boac, Marinduque, who were randomly selected from top three barangays with the highest number of affected fisherfolk: Lupac, Sawi and Hinapulan. On the other hand, secondary data were obtained from the barangay councils of the chosen barangays, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Marinduque Council for Environmental Inc. (MACEC). Related studies were also sourced from educational and governmental sites to achieve the study’s objectives.

The socio-demographic characteristics of the fisherfolk showed that majority of the respondents who aged 65 years old were mostly male, married, and were commonly the heads of their respective families. Most of them were elementary graduates and had a household size of four members. Under the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (Carney, 1998), it was found that the contamination of the river system and the coastal areas that caused diseases, decrease in yield and quality of the aquatic animals being caught in the areas affected, fish kills and even total loss of aquatic activities have gravely affected these fisherfolk. These factors have caused the human, physical and natural capital to decrease in value that led to decrease in the livelihood’s financial capital. With the use of paired t-test, it was proven that there was a decrease in the aquatic yield and income of the fisherfolk after the spill. From an average of 7.18 kg of catch per day before the mine tailing spill happened, the volume decreased to 0.5 kg per day after the incident. It was also estimated that there was an average income of P8,646 per month before the incident happened, which decreased to as low as P534 per month after the devastation occurred. In addition, the unmet target income of many affected fisherfolk caused economic shock to majority of the respondents. In fact, 18.7% of the total respondents have not yet received any of the Marcopper’s compensation.

In comparison with the study of Adjei (2007), both respondents from Boac, Marinduque and Ghana adopted coping mechanisms such as natural resource-based activities, non-natural resource-based activities, migration and social networks to overcome the vulnerability context affecting their livelihood. However, the Alternative Livelihood Programs provided by the mining companies in Ghana including livestock rearing, oil extraction from palm and kernel, and financial management made the coping mechanism outcomes of the affected farmers of Ghana more successful and sustainable. Aside from the additional skills and knowledge, the ALP also provided start-up capital and free livestock animals to help the affected farmers, while in Marinduque, only small amount of compensation were distributed and no alternative livelihood program was implemented by the government or even the company responsible for the tragedy that could that help the affected fisherfolk achieve a more sustainable livelihood.

From the results, the following recommendations were formulated: rehabilitation of the river system and coastal areas, which includes provision of artificial reefs and fish sanctuaries, implementation of mangrove reforestation project, utilization of Phytoremediation (i.e. bamboo, sunflower, etc.) and filtering materials (i.e coconut coir and shell, rice hull and etc.) ; provision of agricultural livelihood trainings and programs on farming and livestock, coconut processing, aquarium fish marketing and nursery, banana marketing, tamarind candy processing and arrowroot production processing; provision of more advanced fishing technologies; promotion of environmental awareness and education on health hazards; and extension of financial assistance and distribution of unpaid compensation to the affected fisherfolk.

Language

English

LC Subject

Fisheries--Environmental aspects, Mine accidents, Fisheries--Monitoring

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993 2017 M17 L373

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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