CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / May 5, 2014) – Environmentalists praised the Mines and Geosciences Bureau for suspending the operations of the nickel mining firm MarcVentures Mining and Development Corporation in Surigao del Sur province for various violations.
“We are very happy to hear MGB’s action, although we expected the suspension to be imposed last year after the multi-disciplinary team assessment on MMDC’s mining operations in Barangay Cabangahan (Cantilan) and Sitio Pili, Panikian (Carrascal),” said Chito Trillanes, a spokesman for the Vicariate of CARCANMADCARLANPAR-Social Action Center of the San Pedro Apostol Parish in Cantilan town.
The order was issued by MBG Director Leo Jasareno.
“The order of Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Leo Jasareno suspending MarcVentures Mining and Development Corporation mining operations in Cantilan and Carrascal is a very welcome development for our people not only in Cantilan but in the entire province of Surigao del Sur. We commend Director Jasareno for taking this difficult stand against MMDC, a big mining firm, which is backed-up by strong politicians in our area,” Trillanes said.
He said they now seeking the cancellation of the Mineral Product Sharing Agreement (MPSA) of MarcVentures and indemnification for the damages it caused to the environment and our people.
“To us, the suspension concretely shows that the Aquino Administration’s Matuwid Na Daan has a place in our province. For a while, our people thought it is just an illusion and they seem to lose their faith with this administration. However, with the findings by the multi-disciplinary team of major violations committed by the company, we believe that MGB should impose heavier sanctions than just suspending MMDC,” he said.
MarcVentures was accused of mining outside its mining areas and Trillanes said the cancellation of the MPSA is the only assurance that “MMDC will no longer be a serious threat to the integrity of God’s creation in our area especially in the Watershed Forest Reserves.”
The company denied all allegations against them. (Mindanao Examiner)
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