Large-scale mining, however, is not the only problem. A bigger problem confronting the minerals-development sector involves the environmental destruction and pollution caused by small-scale mining operations.
Small-scale miners use toxic-heavy metals, like mercury, to separate and purify the gold and indiscriminately dump wastewater that end up in water bodies.
There are around 300,000 small-scale mining companies and operators in the Philippines. Most of these companies operate outside the declared Minahang Bayan, which is in violation of existing environmental laws and policies.
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