On February 26, 2025, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga formalized an agreement with Greenstone Resources Corporation (GRC), a mining company based in Surigao del Norte, and two Peoples Organizations (POs) under its Adopt-an-NGP Site Project. This initiative, part of the National Greening Program (NGP), aims to rehabilitate degraded areas, particularly those with low survival rates of trees and those damaged by natural calamities. However, this collaboration raises important questions about the paradoxical involvement of the mining sector in environmental restoration.
Mining and Environmental Degradation: A Conflict of Interest?
Mining operations have long been associated with deforestation, pollution, and ecological destruction. Companies like GRC are required by law to comply with tree replacement programs as stipulated in the Special Tree Cutting & Earth-balling Permit (STCEP). Yet, the fundamental issue remains—why are entities responsible for large-scale environmental degradation being entrusted with restoration efforts? Is this a genuine attempt at sustainability or merely a greenwashing tactic to fulfill regulatory obligations while continuing extractive activities?
The Role of DENR and the National Greening Program
DENR’s National Greening Program was established to address deforestation and biodiversity loss. The Adopt-an-NGP Site Project, in which GRC will rehabilitate 50 hectares of tree plantations per PO, aims to involve communities in reforestation efforts while ensuring that mining companies meet their replanting quotas. But should the government rely on these same industries to repair damage they have caused? Would it not be more effective to strengthen regulatory enforcement and impose stricter penalties rather than engaging in what appears to be a contradiction in environmental policy?
Community Involvement: Beneficiaries or Complicit Participants?
The participation of Peoples Organizations such as Kapunungan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Simbalan Inc. (KAMASI) and Anahawan Mahayahay Tribal Development Agro Farmers Producers Association, Inc. (AMTRIDAFPA) presents both opportunities and risks. On one hand, these POs benefit from financial support for rehabilitation and enrichment planting, which could provide short-term livelihood improvements. On the other hand, their involvement might inadvertently legitimize the mining company’s operations, giving the illusion of corporate responsibility while communities continue to bear the long-term consequences of environmental destruction.
A Step Forward or a Step Backward?
The partnership between DENR Caraga and GRC highlights a crucial dilemma in environmental governance: should institutions responsible for ecological harm be allowed to dictate the terms of rehabilitation? If mining firms are truly committed to environmental protection, their primary focus should be on minimizing destruction at the outset rather than compensating for damage afterward.
As the Adopt-an-NGP Site Project progresses, it is vital to scrutinize its long-term impact. Will this initiative lead to genuine ecological restoration, or will it serve as a smokescreen for continued exploitation? More importantly, should the government allow mining companies to control the narrative on environmental responsibility, or should stricter policies ensure that conservation efforts are not compromised by corporate interests?
