ENVIRONMENT or ECONOMY: Ban lifting of open-pit mining in the Philippines

Theclash of divided opinions between environmentalists and economists regarding the ban lifting of open-pit mining in the Philippines is a hot topic in South Cotabato Province.

After the huge impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy, the Philippine government finally decided to lift the ban on open-pit mining as a new source of economic funds to alleviate the inflation rate. This move resulted in the weighing of two different sets of notions and is being highly debated regarding what matters more, envi-

Health is important, we should give more attention to the things we are eating. Lack of space is not a problem anymore and hydroponic gardening helps to ensure a healthy non-chemical crop product.

Soil-less planting in its way to conquer the crafting industry. The water-based technique on growing plants using nutrient solution that does not involve soil. With the advancement of technology growing crops are also developed. Hydroponics technology might sound cutting-edge as it is proved that it can minimize the burden of the farmers that are having difficulty in maintaining huge space and also crops produced are sustainable and cheap.

Hydroponic garden project in General Santos City National High School (GSCNHS) that started in the first half of the largest underdeveloped copper-gold mine fields in Southeast Asia. This mine in South Cotabato is said to have a potential average yield of 375,000 metric tons of copper and 360,000 ounces of gold per annum on its expected 17-year life of extraction. Economists claim that this potential mineral harvest will help the nation to overturn its inflating economic crisis. However, environmentalists, locals, and outsiders have opposing opinions regarding the matter.

Relaunching of open-pit mining in the Philippines will affect several factors within the community, wild- of March 2020, with the goal of growing less-attention-demanding crops and producing healthy vegetables for both students and teachers. According to Ma’am Abison, the first step of hydroponic gardening may be very difficult, requiring a lot of time and effort but it is still very fulfilling when students appreciate the crops and the healthy food served to them.

A school-based hydroponic garden facility was built in GSCNHS led by Ma’am Shirmae Abison and Sir Ramil Para. Teachers persistently pursued the structure and locals will need to relocate away from their homes, which has been an essential part to their culture, lifestyle, and livelihood due to the massive scale of the operation. Wherein, a wide scale of the surface is excavated to harvest mineral deposits that are found close to the ground surface and to create a pathway for heavy equipment needed in the operation. Both arguments of opposing parties are accurate, sensible, and relevant, but it is not about what matters more. It is not about choosing between the environment or the economy. These two hold an equal and development of the hydroponic greenhouse. Especially teachers who led the feeding program that have difficulties to budget the funds that are allocated to students who are participating in the feeding program. Hydroponics grown crops help to lessen the expenses and to make sure of a healthy meal for students as there are no preservatives and chemicals adsorbed.

Hydroponics is a good source of income for the feeding program as they help to assist the budget allocated for the program.