Mines bureau warns vs illegal mining

Sunday, February 5, 2012

BANGUED, Abra -- A Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) official warned anew of the dangers of unabated illegal mining activities to the environment and the people.

MGB-Cordillera Director Orlando Pineda aired the warning when he saw the deteriorating condition of Mt. Capcapo in the town of Licuan-Baay in Abra where small-scale mining activities are being conducted by the locals and miners from other provinces.

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Pineda said with the deteriorating condition of the mining site, it is not far that accidents like what happened in Mt. Diwalwal in Compostela Valley could happen here too.

Pineda, in his assessment of the present condition of Mt. Capcapo, said there is an urgent need to look into the damage that illegal mining activities could have caused to the environment for the security of the place and of those who live downstream.

He also pointed out that the pocket miners do not have the appropriate technology; some are still using mercury, which can endanger their lives, the people around them and the environment.

There were previous efforts to abate illegal mining in Mt. Capcapo. There was an order by Governor Eustaquio Bersamin to stop the illegal mining activity but due to poverty, the mining persisted.

Pineda thus batted for these small-scale miners to have their own processing plant for their ores, as well as a place to contain their tailings to protect marine life in the rivers and farmlands surrounding the area and the people.

He also emphasized the need for the small-scale miners to be more environmentally responsible and help rehabilitate the environment for the security of the next generation.

Pineda said it is the miners' responsibility because after all, they are the ones who benefited from the environment.

Meanwhile, Pineda called on the local to coordinate closely with the local government units (LGUs), especially those situated along the Abra River, especially in times of emergencies.

Pineda said those upland municipalities should inform the LGUs downstream when there is rain upstream to give towns a chance to prepare and, if necessary, to evacuate residents. (Maritess B. Beñas)