Mayor warns stiffer penalties for erring mining firms

CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano on Monday warned mining operators to strictly comply with the cease and desist order he issued last Thursday against the stoppage of all mining operations in the city.

Emano said if these mining operators will not heed his order, they will face stiffer penalties.

“Mining operators who have been operating without my permission must give in to my order and to follow the demand of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other agencies,” he told Sun.Star.

Last Friday, representatives from the DENR, City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and other agencies conducted a surprise visit on a mining company identified as Oikus Trading Services operating in Barangay Dansolihon.

The visit was in response to a complaint by a resident who claimed that his “boundary lot was affected by the company’s operations.”

Based on investigation, the company was given a special permit for exploration only.

However, it was believed that the company is operating in “large scale” as shown by the presence of heavy equipment inside the exploration area during the surprise inspection.

The company’s security guard at the site said they have already stopped operating one week ago.

But due to the “fresh traces of mining operation,” Emano ordered the company to stop its operation.

However, it was learned that the company continues to operate.

“If the company will not heed to my order, I will be forced to have them arrested. And they will face much stiffer penalties,” Emano said.

The mayor said he will send back the DENR team for another round of inspection.

“I will not tolerate miners in the city,” Emano said.