ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Zamboanga del Sur has passed a resolution requesting the regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to stop all illegal mining operation in the province.
The resolution authored by Board Member Miguelito Ocapan stemmed from the complaint filed by several barangay officials of Bayog alleging that some elected officials of the town are involved in illegal small-scale mining operation.
It said that barangay officials from Depore, Dipili, Dimalinao and Pulangbato informed that some elective officials of Bayog are engaged in illegal mining activities and that this be investigated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
In Bayog, illegal small scale mining operation has continued in Sitio Balabag, Barangay Depore of the said municipality. The alleged financiers and operators of the illegal activity are several elected town officials.
Alarmed by the perceived conflict among some officials of Bayog town, Ocapan moved that MGB should address all forms of illegal mining activities in the province
Also, in a two-page resolution, the Inter-Agency Task Group on Mining, Environment and Public Order and Safety (ZND-IATGMEPOS) expressed its apprehension that if illegal mining operation in Zamboanga del Sur will continue, it will not only endanger lives of people the the environment and ecosystem of the province.
The Group urged the regional director of the MGB who is also the chair of the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) of Zamboanga del Sur to issue a stoppage order to all persons who are involved in illegal mining within the province’s jurisdiction.
The resolution said that inspections and verifications made by the Group revealed several illegal mining operations do not have permits and contracts with the government.
“There is an urgent need to stop all these illegal mining operation, regulate the legitimate ones and strengthen the enforcement of environmental laws,” the resolution further said.
The resolution, authored by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Adelaida Borja also expressed the urgent need to stop the illegal mining operation adding that besides endangering lives of people and the environment, illegal mining operation also caused the proliferation of illegal firearms and explosives, child labour and deterioration of peace and order and even death in some areas, like in Bayog town.
The Task Group is composed of MGB, Environmental Management Bureau, Penro-DENR, Armed Forces of the Philippines through the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division, Office of the Regional Executive Director of the DENR, representatives of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Sur and Governor Antonio H. Cerilles.
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