Protecting Antique’s Mountains And Communities: A Call to Action

Antique’s majestic mountains are the ecological and cultural lifeline of the Province of Antique, sustaining communities and nurturing rich biodiversity. Yet, these vital ecosystems face relentless threats from extractive industries, particularly large-scale mining. Since the 1990s, around 20 mining applications—covering over 53,000 hectares across 13 towns—have targeted mineral-rich areas, including copper, gold, silver, and chromite deposits.

Despite past victories—such as Sibalom’s successful resistance in 2004, Libertad’s in 2011 and Patnongon’s in 2012—the danger remains. In 2024, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau proposed a 3,715-hectare mineral reservation spanning Patnongon, San Remigio, Valderrama, and Sibalom, sparking renewed fears among communities.

Why Protection is Critical

Antique’s mountainous terrain, already high-risk due to steep slopes and fragile geology, has suffered severe damage from powerful typhoons like Paeng and Frank. These storms triggered massive landslides, stripping away vegetation and destabilizing slopes, which alters natural contours and increases erosion. Mining activities would further weaken the land structure, accelerating soil loss and sedimentation in rivers. This not only heightens flood risks for low-lying communities but also degrades critical watersheds that regulate water flow. The resulting siltation chokes rivers, disrupts aquatic habitats, and threatens downstream farmlands and coastal ecosystems, ultimately jeopardizing food security and local livelihoods.

Impacts on Water Supply, Biodiversity and Local Community

Antique’s water supply relies heavily on forest-generated surface water rather than groundwater, making healthy watersheds essential. Typhoons compound the problem by denuding forests, reducing the land’s ability to absorb and gradually release rainwater. Mining would exacerbate this by clearing forests and compacting soil, diminishing natural water retention. Without tree cover, rainfall rushes downstream unchecked, causing flash floods in the wet season and water shortages in dry months. This disrupts irrigation for agriculture and reduces clean drinking water availability, putting further strain on communities already vulnerable to climate extremes. Protecting Antique’s forests is therefore critical to sustaining its water supply and long-term resilience.

These forests are the last refuge of the ‘Big 5 of Panay’—the Dulungan or Rufous-headed Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni), Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi), Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons), Panay Monitor Lizard (Varanus mabitang), and the rare Rafflesia species (Rafflesia speciosa and Rafflesia lobata). They also harbor other endangered and endemic species found nowhere else on Earth, such as the Panay Bushy-tailed Cloud Rat (Crateromys heaneyi) and the Panay Striped Babbler (Zosterornis latistriatus).

For Indigenous communities like the Ati and Iraynon Bukidnon, these ancestral lands are essential to their cultural survival and identity. Allowing destructive activities like mining in these areas would result in irreversible harm—not only to biodiversity and Indigenous heritage, but also to Antique’s ecotourism potential, which represents a sustainable and inclusive path for development. The scarred landscapes of Palawan stand as a stark and cautionary example.

Health, Safety, and Social Costs

Mining introduces toxic chemicals like cyanide and mercury, contaminating water and air, and endangering public health. Communities near mining sites also face displacement and intimidation from armed security forces, stifling dissent and eroding safety.

A Sustainable Future for Antique

Antique’s commitment to ecotourism and ecological balance is fundamentally at odds with destructive mining. The province has already suffered from exploitative industries, as seen in the environmental devastation of Semirara. 

We must not repeat these mistakes—we cannot allow mining to take root in Antique’s mainland.

Join the Fight

With 53,000 hectares at risk, Antique’s people demand urgent action. We call on leaders to:

• Prohibit mining permits and agreements by enacting a 50-year moratorium 
• Reject the mineral reservation declaration.

By signing this petition, you support Antique’s fight to preserve its natural heritage. Together, we can secure a sustainable future—one that prioritizes people, ecosystems, and long-term prosperity.

Let your voice be heard. Protect Antique’s mountains, communities, and future—now!