Go for the Gold, Children!

Small-scale mining sites in the Philippines are increasing. Rocky and seemingly barren mountains containing gold is a great invitation for miners. That is why people of all ages engage in such hazardous activities that even the children of school age neglect their studies just to look for small portions of gold. These children, who should be studying in classrooms or playing in the streets, are working so hard in dark dangerous tunnels that could collapse anytime and, in murky and muddy ponds, which are highly contaminated by mercury, used to separate gold particles from ground rock.

Recent news revealed that in Barangay Ambolong, Aroroy, Masbate, five children were busily panning for gold instead of going to school. Instead of carrying a bagful of books to and from school, they carry sacks of rocks that weigh from 40 to 60 kilograms from the tunnels, one to five kilometers away from the milling place. Instead of using chalk and board, they use ball mills, devices that ground rocks that are collected from the tunnels. 51-year-old resident of Ambolong and ball mill owner, Noli Durano, said, "Children should not be doing this hard labor but it's the parents themselves who send their sons into this kind of work." He added that he does not employ children as miners, but most of those who use his ball mills are minors. (Inquirer News 2012)

Isn't it quite disturbing how we allow children to be exposed to working at such an early age? What are the implications in this kind of situation? The country's quality of education is affected. Also, there is a slight movement in the country's economic status. Lastly, there are serious implications when it comes to children and their health.

In 1994, Rodel Moscoso of Camarines, Bicol engaged in small-scale mining at the early age of 10. He would descend in a narrow 20-foot tunnel everyday deteriorating his eardrums and lungs because of the low depth he enters. He would earn less than a dollar a day to give to his poor family in Camarines. He also suffered grave misfortune as he worked in the mines like getting dunked in the mud as he hauled up dirt, falling from a cavern after a dynamite explosion and many more. Furthermore, he panned for gold bare handed which made him very susceptible to mercury poisoning. His story changed in 1998, when he finally decided to stop mining and started fighting against child labor. A senator put him through school and graduated with a college degree when he was 25 years old. (Dacanay 2010)

In 1998, a case study of children in small-scale mining was conducted. Results of the research are as follows:

"Out of 94 children, 67% were adolescents, 17 years and younger, 20% were younger than 11 while 7.4% were 18 and older. 46% were no longer in school and 28% were migrants from Quezon, Cavite and Masbate. Underground mining work was done by 13.5% of the children while 18% were involved