MARINDUQUE, PHILIPPINES | September 27, 2026 — The Prayer Rally for Justice and Rehabilitation, for the Release of the DENR Communication Now, was held.
As the October 4, 2026, deadline for the Settlement Agreement between the Provincial Government of Marinduque and Barrick Gold draws near, MACEC—together with the Diocese of Boac, interfaith communities, civil society organizations, and the people of Marinduque—announces a Prayer Rally calling on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to immediately release the final communication required to activate the long‑awaited rehabilitation fund.
Most Rev. Edwin O. Panergo, D.D., Bishop of Boac, frames the appeal as both spiritual and civic, urging Catholics, interfaith communities, and the nation to unite in prayer for Creation and call for the DENR Communication’s release so the approved settlement funds can finally support the rehabilitation of affected communities.
This Prayer Rally is not simply a gathering; it is a moral call to action.
Decades of Pleas, Decades of Inaction
For decades, Marinduque has endured severe environmental destruction caused by Marcopper’s mining operations. Communities have repeatedly appealed to the national government and the DENR to hold responsible companies accountable and to rehabilitate the damaged rivers, bays, and abandoned dams that continue to threaten lives. For decades, there has been no sufficient response from the DENR, only remediation orders that Marcopper ignores and cannot implement.
Despite this long history of neglect, the people of Marinduque persevered and achieved a historic victory: the US$100 million Settlement Agreement, affirmed by the Court of Appeals in October 2025. This fund is intended to restore Boac River, Mogpog River, and Calancan Bay, and to secure dangerous abandoned mining structures.
DENR Communication Must Be Released Now. It is the final requirement for releasing the first US$50 million currently held in escrow. Without it, the Settlement Agreement may lapse, Barrick Gold may withdraw the escrowed funds, the province may be forced back into lengthy litigation with no guarantee of success, and decades of struggle by the Provincial Government, MACEC, Writ of Kalikasan petitioners, and the people of Marinduque may be lost.
This is why releasing the document is non‑negotiable and time‑critical.
A Call to DENR and Provincial Leadership
The people of Marinduque ask the DENR and Secretary Cuna to stand with them in this moment of truth. We call on the Provincial Government to act decisively and urge the DENR to release the communication.
This is the time to prove that you are one with the people of Marinduque in seeking justice. The community’s demands are clear:
Immediate release of the DENR Communication
Active leadership from the Provincial Government in urging DENR action
Rehabilitation of damaged ecosystems and abandoned mining structures
Protection of communities in Boac, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz, and other affected areas
Safeguarding the future of the next generation
One prayer, One Call, One Marinduque MACEC calls on all Marinduqueñs to gather in prayer on September 28, 2026 in front of the Marinduque Municipal Hall, to make their voices heard by municipal and national leaders. This struggle is not only about documents or deadlines. It is about our environment, our safety, our rights, and our children’s future.
In an era of climate change, extreme rainfall, and intensifying disasters, delaying rehabilitation is no longer an option. Our Collective Declaration Together with the Diocese of Boac and the united communities of Marinduque, we declare:
DENR, release the Communication. Release it now. Do not allow this historic victory to slip away. Do not allow the rehabilitation fund to be lost. Do not abandon the people who have fought for justice for decades.
The Voice of the People Must Be Heard. The Prayer Rally Will Carry That Voice.
#############
For more details, please contact: MACEC Secretariat
File: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XkaaK5X99dahip90_GJO8Ts78A06lvkK?usp=drive_link
Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI)
