The Mercury in Small-Scale Gold Mining Monitoring Project 2012 (Project MeMo) is a1-year research activity that will utilize a sophisticated mercury vapor analyzer called the Lumex 915+ (Lumex), to measure mercury vapor in highly contaminated areas around the Philippines. For the Project MeMo proposal to Takagi Fund, the proposed project area is Sibuyan Island in Romblon Province, Philippines.

Sibuyan Island is a unique place in the Philippines and around the globe. The Island is called the "Galapagos of Asia" and has with it a unique and vibrant ecosystem. Along side this unique feature is the destructive small-scale gold mining industry and grave mercury pollution.

In 2011 Ban Toxics (BT) conducted a 4-day mercury vapor sampling in the island using a Lumex. The results of the sampling were given to the provincial government of Romblon and published in a report, together with results from other hotspots, called "Chasing Mercury: Measuring Mercury Vapor Across the Philippines".

The data generated became one of the pillars for the provincial government to call on a province-wide moratorium on mining in order to halt the high levels of mercury in the island. 2-years after the moratorium, BT has been made aware that efforts have been undertaken by the provincial government to identify mercury-poisoning victims. BT has also been made aware that after 2 years no comprehensive mercury vapor monitoring has been done in the island.

BT is especially situated to carry out the project. In addition to having visited and worked with the Romblon provincial government and the community, BT has recently purchased a Lumex 915+ spectrometer. BT now possesses the technical equipment to conduct the technical monitoring. BT is the only NGO in the Philippines capable of using and providing this technical knowledge and capacity building to the Romblon provincial government.

Moreover, for the past several years, BT has been working in small-scale gold mining areas to educate miners on alternatives to mercury in mining. The relationships and exchange of views has greatly enriched BT's knowledge and expertise in dealing with miners and mercury in their sector.

Lastly, BT has been recently awarded by the US Department of State money to conduct similar monitoring activities in some parts of the Philippines, particulary in the Cordillera and Visayan regions. BT intende to leverage the support it has gained with the US department of State with the Takagi Fund Project MeMo proposal in order for BT to reach additional and critical communities such as Romblon. [Sep. 2012]