Jose Mari Gabriel E.
Senga May 27, 2020
2CE-E Geology
It can be said that mining is a double-edged sword if not conducted properly. The
Philippines’ department of environment and natural resources has advocated proper and
responsible mining. According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (2019), the Philippines
earned roughly $4.26 Billion in 2018 in Mineral Exports. While it does bring a large amount of
money in the economy, the effects of mining shouldn’t be disregarded and be taken into
consideration.
Figure 1 Mineral Resources Development Projects (MGB, 2019),
Current structures near mining sites can be affected negatively. In a study done by
Florkowska (2013), buildings were examined near sites where the rock mass was disturbed
though underground mining in Poland. It was stated that,” Underground mining caused
deformation in the subsoil causing additional stress in the foundation of structures”. In response
to the effects, some of the examined structures were reinforced with tie-beams and reinforced
concrete slab as countermeasures.
Figure 2. Steel tie-beams protecting against mining damage (Florkowska, 2013)
Mining also has adverse effects on our environment. The effects of mining were studied
in Baguio and how it impacted the community. It was discovered that the tailings from mining
has affected the local livelihood of people. Due to improper disposal, the tailings find their way
into natural river systems which results to disturbing the local ecosystem. It has damaged the
agricultural production of farmers in Baguio by contaminating the Agno River. It has affected
the irrigation system used by the farmers and damaged the ecosystem of fishes in the river.
(Briones, 1987)
This is the reason why sustainable and responsible mining are being brought forward
locally and internationally. The impacts of improper mining of the past will be felt for years to
come. Toxic elements are released in the world that are detrimental to the health of the
environment and humans. The process of mining must be changed and diverted. It should follow
current regulations and consider the sustainable development goals of the world so that the future
generations will have enough resources to satisfy the needs of the world. (Carvalho, 2017)
The impact of mining can cause additional problems for Civil Engineers. Irresponsible
mining can cause problems that were not considered when the structures were built just like the
study in Poland. It also affects the water systems that were placed and affect the quality of soil in
the area. It looks as if that mining causes another layer of problems that engineers need to take
care of. It is the reason why there needs to be responsible mining and not jus than mining
because of the negative aspects. As Civil Engineers, we can contribute to making mining
sustainable and more environment friendly. Instead of dealing with the effects, we can deal with
it by preventing the effects from happening.
REFERENCE LIST:
Briones, N. D. (1987). Mining pollution: The case of the Baguio mining district, the
philippines. Environmental Management, 11(3), 335–344. doi: 10.1007/bf01867161
Carvalho, F. P. (2017). Mining industry and sustainable development: time for change. Food and
Energy Security, 6(2), 61–77. doi: 10.1002/fes3.109
Florkowska, L. (2013). Example Building Damage Caused By Mining Exploitation In Disturbed
Rock Mass. Studia Geotechnica Et Mechanica, 35(2), 19–37. doi: 10.2478/sgem-2013-0021
Mines and Geosicences Bureau. (2019). The Philippine Mineral Industry At a Glance. Retrieved
2020, May 27, from http://mgb.gov.ph/2015-05-13-01-44-56/2015-05-13-01-47-51#designated-
statistics
