Semirara Island

A 1905 report documented the island as then being forested, and it was estimated that nearly half the trees were a species of Molave described as "wonderful hard wood", as "scarce along the coasts of the archipelago". This large and readily accessible supply was noted to possibly be of considerable importance. The report also documented a profusionn of wild grapes on the island, describing them as edible and similar in size to the Concord grape. and noting that a large quantity of seeds would be brought a forest reserve facility for experimentation aimed at producing a cultivatable variety.{{cite book |title=Report of the Philippine Commission to the Secretary of War | publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office | year=1906 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xtMtAAAAIAAJ | access-date=2024-08-16 | pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=xtMtAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA3 3-4]}}

The island was declared a mineral reservation by President Manuel Quezon in 1940 through Proclamation No. 649.{{cite news |last1=Burgos |first1=Nestor Jr. |title=Review Antique islands' mining status, DENR asked |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1177220/review-antique-islands-mining-status-denr-asked |access-date=27 March 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=14 October 2019 |language=en}} Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SPMC) opened its first coal mine in the island in Unong in 1984{{cite news |last1=Inquirer |first1=Philippine Daily |title=In the know: Semirara Mining Corp. |url=https://business.inquirer.net/107653/in-the-know-semirara-mining-corp |access-date=27 March 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=15 February 2013 |language=en}} which operated until 2000 and the area's vegetation and lake restored years later. The company then opened several more mines including the Panian Pit which operated until in October 2016 shortly after its coal deposits depleted.{{cite news |last1=Rivera |first1=Danessa |title=Semirara to expand coal mine area in Antique |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2020/01/18/1985623/semirara-expand-coal-mine-area-antique |access-date=27 March 2021 |work=The Philippine Star |date=18 January 2020}} SPMC also opened the Narra Pit and the Molave Pit in Semirara Island, both which started commercial operations in the same year.{{cite web |title=Minutes of the Annual Stockholders' Meeting of Semirara Mining And Power Corporation |url=http://www.semiraramining.com/uploads/files/Other%20Notices%20and%20Disclosures/Minutes%20of%20All%20General%20or%20Special%20SM/2017%20Minutes%20of%20Annual%20Stockholders%20Meeting.pdf |publisher=Semirara Mining And Power Corporation |access-date=28 March 2021 |page=3 |date=2 May 2017 |quote=...the Board of Investments approved the registration of Narra and Molave mine projects with full ITH incentives. Both new mines achieved commercial operation last October 2016.}}

Semirara Island is part of the municipality of Caluya in the province of Antique. The island itself consists of three barangays of Caluya: Alegria, Semirara, and Tinogbok.

Semirara is an island which has a land area of about {{convert|55|sqkm|sp=us}}. The island also has a saltwater lake in its southeastern portion, which was the former site of the Unong mine. A freshwater lake also exists north of the island where the Panian mine used to be.{{cite news |last1=Domingo |first1=Ronnel W. |title=Panian mine rehab efforts on track |url=https://business.inquirer.net/234625/panian-mine-rehab-efforts-track |access-date=28 March 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=8 August 2017 |language=en}}

There are two active coal mines operated by the Semirara Mining and Power Corp. as of January 2020; the Narra Pit and the Molave Pit, both of which are {{convert|400|ha|acre}} each. Coal in Semirara is characterized as sub-bituminous C coal with a high moisture content based on ASTM.{{cite report |title=The Current Status of Coal Mining |url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/10678811_02.pdf|pages=59–60 |publisher=JICA}}

;List of coal mines

• Narra Pit {{small|(2016–)}}
• Molave Pit {{small|(2016–)}}
• Panian Pit {{small|(1999–2016)}}
• Unong Pit {{small|(1984–2000)}}

Semirara has an airstrip which serves chartered flights from Manila. The island is also accessible by boat, specifically from the town of San Jose in neighboring province of Occidental Mindoro. Motorized tricycles also provides a means of land transportation within the island.{{cite web |title=EIS Summary For The Public Semirara Coal Mine Expansion Project |url=http://eia.emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ESP_English_SMPC.pdf |website=Environmental Management Bureau |access-date=28 March 2021 |page=ES-2}}

Semirara is host to 21 mangrove species which accounts for 60 percent of the total of 35 recorded mangrove species in the Philippines. Waste produced as a byproduct of coal mining in Semirara has been a concern by residents.{{cite news |title=Semirara folk score pollution of coastal resources |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/150803/semirara-folk-score-pollution-of-coastal-resources/story/ |access-date=27 March 2021 |work=GMA News |date=28 February 2009 |language=en}} Waters adjacent to Semirara also host all recorded giant clam species in the Philippines.

The Semirara Marine Hatchery Laboratory was set up in 2010 by SPMC in the island as the marine rehabilitation arm of the company as well as to develop marine-based livelihood for its host communities.

{{reflist}}

Category:Islands of Antique (province)

Category:Coal mines in the Philippines