27/07/2026
RAK Ph Mountaineers has known Sibuyan Island, often referred to as the “Galápagos of Asia,” for decades. Through years of engagement with the island and its communities, RAK has developed a deep understanding of its ecological significance, environmental challenges, modest living conditions, and exceptional contribution to global biodiversity.
For decades, however, Sibuyan has also been confronted by persistent threats arising from the intersection of economic interests, political influence, and the continued pursuit of mining activities. These pressures have placed the island’s fragile ecosystems, natural resources, and communities at the center of a long-standing struggle for environmental protection and social justice.
The island’s protection was strengthened through the efforts of one of its own defenders, then-Mayor of Magdiwang, Arthur Rey Tansiongco. On February 20, 1996, Mount Guiting-Guiting was declared a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act through Proclamation No. 746, signed by late President Fidel V. Ramos. This declaration marked a significant milestone in the formal recognition and protection of Sibuyan’s exceptional ecological value.
Yet legal protection was never enough.
For those who defend the island not merely on paper, but on the ground, the struggle has come at a profound cost. On October 3, 2007, environmental campaigner, local government worker, and San Fernando town councilor Armin Marin was killed while leading opposition to nickel mining operations and tree-cutting activities. His death, during what should have been a peaceful anti-mining protest, became a painful reminder of the risks faced by environmental defenders. His sacrifice further strengthened the resolve of the people of Sibuyan to protect their fragile island.
Years later, Sibuyan once again faced another major challenge with the activities of Altai Philippines Mining Corporation (APMC), which is linked to Altai Resources Inc., a Canadian exploration company with a 40 percent equity interest in APMC.
Residents and environmental organizations have repeatedly raised concerns regarding alleged violations of environmental laws, including the construction of structures and the cutting of trees without the necessary permits or an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
Local leaders, including Nanding Marin, together with residents and Indigenous communities, have continued to resist mining activities through protests, human barricades, and legal action. In 2023, Nanding Marin, now San Fernando Mayor, famously stood barefoot in front of mining trucks—an act that symbolized the courage and determination of ordinary people confronting powerful interests in defense of their land.
The people of Sibuyan have also pursued legal remedies, including petitions for a Writ of Kalikasan before the Supreme Court and formal appeals to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), seeking to halt the extraction and transport of nickel ore and to hold accountable those responsible for activities that may threaten the island’s environment.
Today, Sibuyan once again stands at a critical crossroads.
The Sangguniang Bayan of San Fernando has endorsed APMC’s application for a Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility—an action that has reignited opposition from residents, conservationists, and environmental advocates who continue to call upon the DENR to revoke or cancel mining agreements and uphold its mandate to protect the island’s environment.
The struggle for Sibuyan is not an isolated struggle.
What happens on this island reflects a much larger national crisis—one in which ecological protection is often placed in conflict with economic interests, political influence, and the pursuit of mineral wealth. The story of Sibuyan is, in many ways, a microcosm of the broader mining situation in the Philippines.
But the island is more than a resource to be extracted.
It is a living ecosystem. It is home to communities. It is a sanctuary of irreplaceable biodiversity. And it is a natural heritage whose value cannot be measured solely in terms of minerals beneath the ground.
The responsibility to protect Sibuyan ultimately rests not only with government institutions, but with the people who live there, defend it, and will inherit the consequences of decisions made today. The protection of its forests, rivers, mountains, and communities is not an obstacle to development. It is a responsibility to future generations.
With renewed commitment and solidarity, RAK PH Mountaineers stands with the people of Sibuyan and with communities across the country whose lands and lives are threatened by destructive mining practices.
The struggle continues.
No to mining in Sibuyan.
No to the destruction of Palawan.
No to the exploitation of Caraga and Surigao.
No to the destruction of the Sierra Madre.
Protect our forests. Defend our communities. Uphold environmental justice.
IPAMANA, HINDI IPAMINA
