PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / May 28, 2012) – Authorities have failed to put a stop to illegal gold mining activities despite a government order in the town of Bayog in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur, officials said Monday.
Officials said the illegal activities continue unabated in Balabag in the mountain village of Depore, where one miner had died from a recent landslide.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Western Mindanao said at least 28 owners of illegal rod mills used in processing of gold continue to operate in Balabag without any government permits.
“It was observed that mining activities were proliferating in the area, and operating without valid environmental permits from the EMB. Illegal rod mill operators violated Clean Water Act of 2004, Clean Air Act of 1999, Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990,” said EMB Regional Director Sixto Tolentino in a letter sent recently to Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles.
Cerilles is also the chairman of the Zamboanga del Sur Inter-Agency Task Group on Mining, Environment, and Public Order, and Safety. Just this year, Cerilles ordered the closure of all illegal mining operations in Bayog, but some of its financiers were government officials.
The task group is composed of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Environmental Management Bureau, Provincial Environment Office, Armed Forces of the Philippines through the 1st Infantry Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and representatives of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Sur.
The MGB has released an (cease and desist) order last month stopping all illegal mining operations in Balabag. But military and police authorities have failed to carry out the order for a still unknown reason.
The EMB warned owners of illegal rod mills, mostly members of the Monte de Oro Small Scale Miners Association headed by Roselyn Silva, for operating without government permits
In an inspection in Balabag this month, Tolentino said the rod mill operators also violated various environmental laws. He ordered them to submit their reply to complaints filed against them.
He identified the illegal rod mill operators as Jessie Duala, Dodong Gumimpi, Sally Gumimpi, Arnulfo Garan, Boy Mantos, Loloy Labadisos, Arandy Silva, Jerry Silva, Roselyn Silva, Boyet Pausanos, Balolho Bation, Windelyn Bation, Gerardo Sinanggote, Nonoy Sinanggote, BGD, Lek2x Cabug-os and Corpo, Raul Dano, Nelly Samonte, Ajing Andilab, Belen Labilisma, Dinnes Paquit, Rico Briol, Dylene Generosa, Roberto Lopez, Eutime Virgo, Bob Lopez, Charity Monding and Stephine Maribao.
“Your failure to attend the scheduled conference or file a position paper shall be construed as a waiver of your right to present evidence in your behalf and the case shall be resolved based on evidence on record,” Tolentino said in separate letters sent to them.
The illegal gold mining activities in the sleepy town of Bayog have been going on for the past 15 years. Small scale miners have illegally claimed hundreds of hectares of lands Balabag and since then have caused tremendous environment pollution. The illegal miners used cyanide and nitric acid and other hazardous chemicals including mercury to process gold, according to DENR.
And despite these problems, authorities are hapless in putting a stop to the illegal mining in Bayog where miners blasted their way through tunnels with improvised explosives. Child labors are also rampant in Balabag, where many laborers and miners had died from landslides and collapsed tunnels over the years. (Mindanao Examiner)
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