24/07/2026
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE DENR, THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF SIBUYAN, THE MOUNTAINEERING COMMUNITY, THE FILIPINO PEOPLE, AND THE MINING COMPANY SEEKING TO OPERATE IN SIBUYAN
There are places on Earth that are far too precious to be sacrificed for profit.
Sibuyan Island is one of them.
I write this not only as a concerned Filipino, but as someone whose heart belongs to this island. Sibuyan is more than a place on the map, it is our home, our identity, our history, and our future.
To the President of the Republic of the Philippines,
To the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
To the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)
You have been entrusted with protecting the nationโs natural heritage for both present and future generations. We respectfully urge you to stand with the people of Sibuyan and reject any mining project that threatens one of the countryโs most biologically important islands.
Sibuyan is internationally recognized for its extraordinary biodiversity. It is home to ancient forests, crystal-clear rivers, endemic wildlife, and the majestic Mt. Guiting-Guiting. These natural treasures cannot be replaced once they are destroyed.
No amount of revenue can restore a mountain that has been carved apart, a river poisoned by mine waste, or a forest that has disappeared forever.
To the Indigenous Peoples of Sibuyan,
For generations, you have protected this land with wisdom, respect, and a deep understanding of nature. Your connection to the island reminds us that land is not merely a resource, it is life, culture, and identity. May we remain united in defending the home that our ancestors entrusted to us.
To the mountaineering community,
You know what it means to stand beneath old-growth forests, cross pristine rivers, and witness the beauty of mountains untouched by destruction. We follow the principle of โLeave No Traceโ because we believe nature deserves our respect.
Now is the time to live by that principle beyond the trails.
Stand with Sibuyan.
Raise your voices before another irreplaceable landscape is lost.
To every Filipino,
This is not only Sibuyanโs fight.
This is our nationโs fight.
When we allow one of our most valuable ecosystems to be destroyed, we all lose a part of our natural heritage. The consequences will not stop at the islandโs shores, they will affect biodiversity, climate resilience, water security, and future generations.
To the mining company seeking to operate in Sibuyan, ALTAI PHILIPPINES MINING CORP
We ask you, respectfully but firmly:
LEAVE OUR SIBUYAN ISLAND ALONE.
Not every valuable thing beneath the ground should be extracted.
Some treasures are worth far more when they remain exactly where nature placed them.
Short-term profits can never justify permanent environmental destruction.
There are countless opportunities to build businesses without sacrificing one of the last remaining ecological treasures of the Philippines.
Choose to be remembered not for what you extracted, but for what you had the wisdom to leave untouched.
Sibuyan is not just a source of minerals.
It is a living ecosystem.
It is the source of our rivers, our livelihoods, our culture, and our hope.
Once it is damaged, there is no turning back.
We refuse to exchange our forests for promises.
We refuse to exchange clean water for temporary economic gain.
We refuse to exchange our childrenโs future for corporate profit.
Our message is simple and unwavering:
No to Mining in Sibuyan.
Protect Mt. Guiting-Guiting.
Protect our forests.
Protect our rivers.
Protect our biodiversity.
Protect our Indigenous communities.
Protect our future.
Because some places are simply too valuable to lose.
Sibuyan is not for sale.
Our home is not your mine.
Copy from Alecka Eclarino Siao
