MANILA, Philippines — Small-scale gold miners from Camarines Norte and Mountain Province are pushing for a formal, more elevated status for their sector in the national economy through stronger
Small-scale gold miners from Camarines Norte and Mountain Province are pushing for a formal, more elevated status for their sector in the national economy through stronger partnerships with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
At a conference in Parañaque City on Tuesday, the miners called for the formal recognition of their subindustry, which currently employs around 500,000 workers and supports the livelihood of about 2 million more Filipinos.
Such aspirations arise from their need for assistance and resources that could lead to safer working environments and methods, and more access to legitimate buyers and traders.
According to a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, 70 percent of the country’s gold reserve supply comes from small-scale gold mining (SSM) operations like those in Paracale, Camarines Norte, and Sagada, Mountain Province. Nearly half of all provinces in the country have SSM activities.
Through SSM, individuals or small enterprises mine gold with minimal capital and use traditional techniques like manual labor and simple tools, which date back to the Spanish colonial period.
However, these miners often use the dangerous metal mercury to separate gold from the ore. Mercury binds to gold particles and forms an amalgam, which is then burned to extract the metal.
Out of 35 provinces with SSM activity, 22 have reported mercury use. A PlanetGOLD survey of 134 Paracale miners found that 68 percent use mercury because it is easy to use, while 41 percent said it’s the only method they know.
Through inhalation, direct contact or ingestion of mercury-contaminated animals, the miners can experience a range of effects, from short-term problems like skin issues to chronic effects, such as paralysis or the deterioration of the nervous system.
