14 Caraga mining operations ordered stopped
Mountainside stripped almost bare by mining operation in Hinatuan. Photographed by Erwin Mascariñas, InterAksyon
Butuan City – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday announced the closure of more than 20 mining operations in the country, 14 of which are situated in the Caraga Region.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez announced the stoppage of 14 Caraga mining companies, among them seven in the Island province of Dinagat, four in Surigao del Norte and three in Surigao del Sur.
The mining companies in Dinagat Island ordered to desist from operating are:
· AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration
· Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation
· SinoSteel Philippines HY Mining Corporation
· Kromico, Incorporated
· Oriental Vision Mining Philippines Corporation
· Wellex Mining Corporation
· Libjo Mining Corporation
For Surigao del Norte:
· Hinatuan Mining Corporation in Hinatuan Island, Tagana-an town
· Adnama Mining Resources Incorporated (AMRI) in Barangay Urbiztondo, Claver
· Claver Mineral Development Corporation in Barangay Cagdianao
· Platinum Development Corporation in Barangay Cagdianao, Claver town
And, in Surigao del Sur:
· CTP Construction and Mining Corporation, in Carrascal
· Carrascal Nickel Corporation, Carrascal
· Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation operating at a watershed in the town of Cantilan
Lopez explained: “I am not against the mining industry, per se, but I am against suffering. It is not right that people make a lot of money to the detriment of the community. It’s not right, it’s against the mining law, it’s against the Philippine constitution.”
She pointed out that the action is the result of the 2016 mining audit conducted by DENR.
For its part, the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) organization remarked that the mining audit itself was a welcome initiative last August 2016, a move that was mandated by Executive Order 79 during the Aquino administration but, sadly, never implemented by past DENR officials.
“ATM hopes that Sec. Lopez’s display of political will be rewarded through her confirmation by the Commission on Appointments. The country needs more leaders like her who are decisive and incorruptible.”
DENR Undersecretary Art Valdez of the Anti-Environmental Crime Task Force said DENR would be vigilant in imposing the closure order.
“We will pour in more logistics at areas where these mining operations to be closed are located, to closely monitor compliance, and for them to abide by the closure and the rehabilitation processes. The closure order also is the time that the rehabilitation fund will be released, representing a certain percentage of fees set aside by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB),” Valdez explained.
Valdez added that funds would also be used for the sustainable area development program, which is intended to provide livelihood of the people who used to work for the closed mining operation.
Atty Michelle Go, environment assistant secretary for Field Operations in Mindanao, stressed the utmost importance of the DENR’s task: “DENR’s overarching goals are Ecosystems Integrity and Social Justice, which are manifested by a healthy environment where people can live to fulfill their fullest potential. Secretary Lopez is determined and will continue to ensure that the people benefit from the fruits of the land they live in.”
Go further stressed that DENR will remain steadfast in its commitment “to serve those who cannot fend for themselves. There will be no mining in all functional watersheds whether covered by a ‘protected’ legal status or not. There will be no mining in coastal areas that risks destruction of coastal and marine resources. There will be no mining in areas where eco-tourism is feasible.”
Emma Hotchkiss, president of CCMCL Baywatch Foundation, a local coalition of various environmental and civic-society groups opposed to the mining in the towns of Cantilan, Carrascal, Madrid, Carmen and Lanuza (CCMCL) in Surigao del Sur, explained that the next step will be the “Sustainable Integrated Areas Development (SIAD), that will be funded by DENR, Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Agriculture. We are now in discussions to come up with SIAD projects as a means to achieve social development and livelihood for those who used to work in the mining industry.”
Hotchkiss added: “We will have another meeting with mayors and civil society organizations fleshing out the implementation of certain projects. They are now planning to form an oversight committee to manage the implementation of these planned projects.”
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERWIN MASCARIÑAS, InterAksyon
Mining scars visible along forested watershed in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur.
Coastal waters discolored by silt from runoff of mining operation in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur.
Patches of scraped areas in Dinagat Island.
Mountainside stripped almost bare at Hinatuan Island, Tagana-an town in Surigao del Norte.
Mountain in background shaved, scraped and scarred as large bulk cargo ships load nickel ore in Claver, Surigao del Norte. ## (By Erwin M. Mascariñas, InterAksyon)
