Sunday, July 11, 2004 Stoppage order on Mt. De Oro mining takes effect July 26 By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE stoppage order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for all mining operations in the new gold rush site in Maco, Compostela Valley will take effect two Mondays from tomorrow or on July 26.
Mines and Geosciences Bureau 11 director Ma. Luisa Jacinto said the small miners agreed to the national government's action plan for Mt. De Oro giving them two weeks to prepare before the implementation of the temporary stoppage order that will last for one and a half month.
Among the plan of actions are the confiscation of all chainsaws in the area, the dismantling of road mills, the closure of tunnels, the ban on cutting of trees, the establishment of checkpoints and the restriction of the influx of people.
For the one and a half month period, the government assured the more than 6,000 miners in Mt. De Oro that they will work out for the legalization of the mining operation by small miners in the area.
DENR Sec. Elisea Gozun said they would be talking with the two legal claimants in Mt. De Oro, the APEX and the North Davao Mining Corporations, to come up with a memorandum of agreement for the issuance of permits to the small-scale miners in Mt. De Oro.
Gozun visited Mt. De Oro last week to personally present before the small miners the government's action plan. She explained that their main objective is not to deprive the miners of their means of living but to ensure the safety and protection of everyone and that of the environment.
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