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Friday, November 18, 2005
T'boli gold rush site ordered closed
KORONADAL CITY -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered the closure of a portion of a gold rush site in T'boli, South Cotabato due to the resumption of the illegal "banlas" or sluice mining operations in the area.
DENR Region 12 director Jim Sampulna said a group of small scale miners in Sitio Elubog in Barangay Kematu have apparently been ignoring a stoppage order issued in February by the South Cotabato Provincial Government.
"We have submitted a report to the office of South Cotabato Governor Daisy Fuentes, recommending a takeover and the full closure of the area from any mining activity," he said.
It may be recalled that the Provincial Government's mining regulatory board issued the stoppage order early this year based on a recommendation coming by the Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MBG).
The MGB report cited that the mountains of Kematu could be wiped out due to the indiscriminate use of "banlas" mining method.
Sampulna said he has authorized the MGB regional office to coordinate with the Provincial Government and come up with a takeover plan and closure of the area.
"As far as our office is concerned, this closure order is final and executory," Sampulna said.
Governor Fuentes admitted that they are having difficulties apprehending residents who continue to hold their illegal activities in the village.
"They have lookouts posted in several parts of the mine site. So before our law enforcers arrive, the illegal miners are no longer there," she said.
Fuentes said "banlas" mining operations also resumed due to the insistence of local mining financiers.
Of the 253 families that rushed to the gold site, about 50 families have remained in the area despite the order of Fuentes to transfer them all to another place in the town.
Last March, the police, backed by the military, stormed the gold rush site and seized the tools used by the miners.
Lourdes Jumilla, head of secretariat of the provincial mining and regulatory board, said a truckload of hoses and sluice boxes was confiscated and burned during the operation. (Allen V. Estabillo)
(November 14, 2005 issue)
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