DENR releases communication on $100-M Marcopper disaster settlement

CALAPAN CITY— The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has released its long-awaited communication related to the US$100-million settlement between the Marinduque provincial government and Canadian-firm Barrick Gold Corporation over the 1995 Marcopper mine disaster that has polluted Marinduque waterways for decades, according to the Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC).

In a Facebook post on Friday (Oct. 2), MACEC said a hard copy of the official DENR communication was released through lawyer Amelthon Sampayo, legal counsel of the original plaintiffs, and Rev. Fr. Arvin Anthony J. Madla, representing the environmental group.

“Matapos ang mahabang panahon ng paghihintay, opisyal nang inilabas ng DENR ang Communication kaugnay ng $100 Million Settlement Agreement,” MACEC said

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(Following a long period of waiting, DENR has finally released the communication associated with the $100 million settlement agreement).

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Details about its contents have not been made public, although it is expected that the “DENR communication” would officially clear and adopt the agreement and pave the way for its execution.

The DENR communication had been among the remaining conditions for the implementation of the settlement between the province and Barrick, which signed the agreement in April 2025 but without a legal admission of liability.

he Court of Appeals approved the settlement in October 2025.

In 2006, Barrick acquired Placer Dome, a major stakeholder of Marcopper Mining Corporation, and has been at the forefront of settling the tailings leaks that flooded water ways like the Boac River thirty years ago.

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Under the agreement, Barrick would pay the province US$100 million over three years once the conditions are fulfilled.

Barrick had earlier placed US$50 million in escrow, with the remaining amount to be paid in tranches.

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The DENR communication became the focus of renewed calls from Marinduque environmental advocates and faith groups in recent weeks, particularly as the Oct. 4 deadline for the settlement approached.

On Sept. 28, the Diocese of Boac, MACEC and other groups held a prayer rally at the provincial capitol calling for the release of the DENR communication.

Marinduque Gov. Melecio Go had earlier asked DENR for technical guidance as to whether the settlement money would be sufficient to address the province’s rehabilitation and remediation needs.

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MACEC described the release of the DENR communication as “a win for the environment” and “a win for Marinduque.”/gsg