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Thursday, May 18, 2006
Groups fear destruction of watershed, sanctuaries
By Ben Serrano
Caraga Correspondent
TUBAY, Agusan del Norte -- Environmentalist and religious groups expressed grave concern anew for destruction of watershed areas, fish and bird sanctuaries if government agencies continue to approve mining claims in this town.
The issue was raised by the group Tigom Batok Mina (Forum Against Mining), a multi-sectoral environmentalist watchdog based here.
They wrote letters to Roman Catholic Church Bishop of the Diocese of Butuan-Agusan, Monsignor Juan De Dios M. Pueblos and DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes to stop mining exploration and operation of three construction firms.
These firms formed a mining consortium to mine nickel, cobalt and gold in Barangay La Fraternidad this town.
They said if the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB), the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) and the local government units continued to accept claims in this town, then damages to the environment may ensue.
Not solid
A portion of the 60 hectares forested area atop mountain ranges of Barangay La Fraternidad was declared "watershed areas" while the whole area set for nickel and cobalt mines were also declared "bird sanctuaries."
Below the mountain ranges there is a huge Agusan Bay in which portions were also declared "fish sanctuary."
Tigom Batok Mina (Forum Against Mining) called for a temporary closure of the exploration and mining operations of S.R. Metals Inc., Gallo Equipment Corporation and San R Mining Company in Barangay La Fraternidad.
Owners of the resort company, Tubay Mountain Beach Resort Inc., located at the area where the mining firms operate, is also set to file class suit against the mining firms.
Fr. Jenor P. Luis, Parish Priest of St Anne Parish of Tubay, Agusan del Norte and one of the conveners said the mining consortium violated provisions of their small scale mining permit where manual labor is required to develop the nickel and cobalt mining the area.
Parishioners accused the mining consortium of bringing in many heavy equipment such as pay loaders for large scale mining operations when their existing permits are only for small scale mining activities.
"The use of these giant heavy equipment cast doubts to the parishioners in bringing employment as promised because only few jobs are required thus unemployment is not solved", Bishop Pueblos said.
Upgrading
The Agusan del Norte Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) with the approval of Agusan del Norte Provincial Board and Governor John Earlpe Amante issued permit for small scale mining to the three firms.
PMRB officials headed by Noli Arreza has given the three firms an annual production of nickel and cobalt ores of 50,000 metric tons with an area of operation to a total of 60 hectares for nickel and cobalt mining project.
S.R. Metals Inc. HRD Manager Salvador Gozon and Mining Operations officer Teodoro Lectad said they opted to use heavy equipment instead of skilled workers because of huge ore production the PMRB has allocated unto them.
The two officials claimed their operation is not bringing in pollution because it is only quarrying and not processing ores since they had to ship the whole ores to China, which is their market.
They admitted they are upgrading their small-scale permits into a large scale mining operations.
(May 18, 2006 issue)
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