Marinduque groups press DENR over delayed Marcopper settlement

CALAPAN CITY— Marinduque residents, environmental advocates and members of the faith community gathered on Monday at the provincial capitol here to urge the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to release the “communication” needed to finalize the $100-million Marcopper mine disaster settlement with Barrick Mining Corp.

In 2006, Barrick acquired the Canadian company that used to run Marcopper Mining Corporation, which polluted Marinduque waterways and potable water after a tailings storage leak unleashed toxic waste that required years of cleanup. 

The March 1996 accident released about 1.6 million cubic meters of mine tailings into the Makulapnit-Boac River system. 

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READ: Barrick Gold deposits $50M in escrow; 1st payment in Marcopper mining tragedy

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“DENR, release the communication now na!” participants chanted during the prayer rally, urging Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna to make public the agency’s official interactions and directives concerning Barrick’s remaining environmental obligations.

The rally was held as the Oct. 4 deadline for the settlement agreement approaches.

Bishop Edwin O. Panergo of the Diocese of Boac had earlier called on Catholics, other religious groups, civic organizations and communities to join the peaceful gathering, saying generations of Marinduque residents going back three decades continue to suffer the effects of the Marcopper mining disaster. 

“Let us unite in prayer for the environment and for the collective expression of our united stand,” Panergo said in a pastoral letter issued ahead of the rally.

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READ: Long wait for justice continues

The communication is among the remaining conditions linked to the settlement, which provides for Barrick to pay the province $100 million over three years for claims and proceedings related to alleged environmental issues involving the Marcopper mine.

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Barrick and the provincial government signed the settlement agreements on April 4, 2025, agreeing that the deal was not an official admission of liability. 

The Court of Appeals approved the agreement on Oct. 3, 2025, but certain conditions, including DENR confirmations, remained outstanding, according to Barrick’s regulatory filing.

Barrick deposited $50 million in escrow in April, according to its filing. The release of the funds remains subject to the DENR’s release of its communication.

The issue resurfaced in August when Marinduque Gov. Melecio Go sought technical guidance from DENR as to whether the settlement would be sufficient to address the province’s rehabilitation and remediation requirements.

The Philippine Information Agency reported on Aug. 13 that the DENR was set to communicate with Barrick. 

READ: 30-year legal battle over Marcopper mine disaster impact ends

Go has also questioned aspects of the settlement process, including the need to account for the DENR’s separate environmental claims, directives and rehabilitation requirements involving the Marcopper mine and other parties.

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The Diocese of Boac said its appeal for the release of the DENR communication was rooted in the long-term environmental effects of the Marcopper disasters and the need to address continuing rehabilitation concerns of affected communities./coa