Marive Jongco
Provincial Info. Officer
Two
units CAT Back hoe, 13 doormats used for filtering was recovered by the joint
forces of LENRO, CENRO and PNP in a raid against illegal mining conducted last
May 20,2013 at the boundary of Lower Sibatang and Noburan Labangan Zamboanga
del Sur.
Local
Environment and Natural Resources Officer (LENRO) Richard Ligan gave details on
the implementation of the ocular inspection last May 20, 2014 based on the
report received from reliable sources that there is a certain operation of
illegal mining activities at the boundary of Lower Sibatang and Brgy Noburan of
this City.
In
response with the call of the government against illegal Mining not only to
protect the environment, but also the residents in the area that the illegal
miners have taken advantaged of in course of their operations, the combined
forces of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through the
Offices of PENRO and CENRO, the City ENRO, LENRO and the Office of the
Provincial Public Safety Company headed by Police Supt. Michael P. Palermo
searched the area and findings shows positively that brought environmental effects of illegal mining which
as a disastrous consequence may destruct the environment, so the team has
recommended on ceasing all illegal mining activities since they are not
registered and have no permit issued by both local and national governments.
Caught
in the act in doing the illegal mining activity were Eight (8) Chinese
Nationals named Xiaomin (39), Dongdong (39), Tangzihan (25), Liu Gi Yi (29),
Chung Yong De (27), Zhung Shu Kei (24), Duan Guang Zong (55), Lui Chang Yin
(50) and one Filipina named Jennilyn Ramirez were arrested. Both have found out
to have no working visa but only tourist visa.
Mean
while, the fact that no excise taxes paid to the Government by the illegal
miners.
Findings
shows that as a consequence of the illegal use of chemicals like mercury by
these Chinese nationals in the mining site it had already affected not only the
springs of the rivers in the area leading to Labangan River.
Lenro
Ligan further stressed out that possible cases to be filed are RA 7942 (Philippine
Mining Act of 1995) which is an Act Instituting a New System of Mineral
Resources Exploration, Development, Utilization and Conservation in relation
with RA 7076 (People Small-Scale Mining Act) which the main purpose of the law
is to effect an orderly and systematic disposition of small-scale mining areas in
the country; to regulate the small-scale mining industry with the view to
encourage their growth and productivity; and to provide technical,
financial and marketing assistance and
efficient collection of government revenues. Also violated acts are Executive
Order No. 79 by the President of the Philippines that (Institutionalizing and
implementing reforms in the Philippine Mining Sector providing policies and
guidelines to ensure environmental protection and responsible mining in the
utilization of mineral resources) and RA 9275 which is the (Water Clean Act of
2004) which affects the water from Langapod going to Labangan river; and Theft
of Minerals since they failed to produce legal documents of mining operations.
Provincial
Governor Tony Cerilles calls for all Zambosurians to give their full support on
the campaign of the Responsible Mining Program, most especially the
constituents and indigenous residents that were affected. It is high time for
both the national and local governments to both look for the small scale miners
who are now millionaires and billionaires and make them responsible for the
rehabilitation of our environment. And with this kind of approach, it would
discourage future violators of our environment because the government will look
for the people who are responsible for its destruction. People should know that
responsible mining means prior consent, an Environmental Compliance Certificate
and payment of taxes.
Only responsible mining should be allowed to operate and
with that, we protect the environment. It is high time for the people to know
what responsible mining is all about since they are all illegal being not
registered in the local government and DENR; obviously, they have not set aside
any money for rehabilitation.
The
Provincial Government is grateful for the successful ocular inspection of the illegal
mining activity in Lower Sibatang in line with the 7- Point Agenda of the
present administration on Program for environment which answer to the problem
against environmental abuse in order to give justice not only to the damages
incurred to our nature, but also to the affected residents in the said area.
