Politics · Philippines Bureau
DENR Announces $100M Marcopper Disaster Settlement Details
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has released communications regarding a US$100-million settlement between Marinduque's provincial government and mining firm Barrick Gold over the 1995 Marcopper disaster. The agreement marks a significant development in addressing decades of environmental contamination from the mining accident.
LSN Philippines ·
CALAPAN CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has disclosed details of a long-awaited settlement agreement worth US$100 million between the Marinduque provincial government and Canadian mining corporation Barrick Gold Corporation regarding the 1995 Marcopper mine disaster.
The settlement addresses environmental damage that has persisted for nearly three decades, with contaminated waterways remaining a critical concern for residents and local communities in Marinduque province. The agreement represents a substantial effort to resolve the lingering impacts of one of the country's most significant industrial environmental disasters.
According to the Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC), the DENR's official communication on the settlement marks an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to remediate environmental damage and seek accountability from the mining operator.
The 1995 Marcopper mine disaster caused significant ecological damage when a containment failure led to the release of mining waste into the province's river systems, affecting water quality, aquatic life, and the livelihoods of local fishing and agricultural communities for years.