Rediscovering San Remegio's mineral wealth

Abstract

Responsible management of the locality's mineral wealth may provide countless benefits that will contribute to the economic and social development of San Remigio, Antique. This may be in the form of employment opportunities, increased revenues, construction of vital structures such as roads, bridges, communication and transportation facilities, enhancement of social services like in education, health and security measures, among others. The municipality of San Remigio is endowed with vast mineral resources which have remained untapped for commercial purposes. Operations had been on-and-off at various times in history and the Gemstone Processing Industry that covered four barangays of Bagumbayan, Lapak, Trinidad and Lumpatan, which at first seemed to be promising, also suffered the same fate. San Remigio, being a third class municipality, and still has a long way to go towards development, could make use of these resources, not only to answer the basic needs of the people, but to efficiently respond to the socio-economic imperatives of the times to liberate the people from their present predicament, who mostly depend upon their resources for livelihood and subsistence. Therefore, sound management of these resources, anchored on the principle of sustainable development, may help the present generation ensure the future of those yet unborn from the womb of time. This thesis then, explores the management of San Remigio's mineral resource, with the active participation of government and non-government institutions, legislation and law enforcement, through qualitative interviews and visits to the old and current mining sites where Copper mining explorations are ongoing in Barangay Carawisan.