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Friday, January 16, 2004
Miners warn of chaos against sale of tunnel
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO -- Thousands of Diwalwal miners are again restless after they discovered the government's plan to directly take part in mining operations in the gold rush area.
Hundreds of miners trooped to the office of the Natural Resources and Mining Development Corporation (NRMDC) as early as 5 a.m. Thursday to protest the alleged questionable sale of Victory tunnel by JB Management and Mining Corp. (JBMMC) to the NRMDC for P85 million.
NRMDC is the business arm of government in the Diwalwal mining operation.
Henry Galang Buduan, chair of Compostela Valley Federation of Mining Cooperatives (CFMC), said they would stay within NRMDC premises until government backs out from its plan to mine Victory tunnel.
CFMC has at least 7,000 member miners. Buduan said they plan to gather more miners to join the protest.
Breach of contract
Buduan said government's plan would be a violation of their service contract. He said only small-scale miners are allowed to mine Diwalwal, with the government getting 15 percent of the miners' produce.
"Pero dili mahimong sila (NRMDC) mismo ang magmina (It's not possible for them to undertake the mining)," he said.
Ralph Basa, CFMC administrator, said they discovered the plan last Jan. 6 during JBMMC's turnover of Victory tunnel rights to NRMDC.
He said NRMDC manager Lucrecio Gatchalian told them not to mine inside the Victory tunnel since it is now exclusively for NRMDC.
The miners, however, said the deal between NRMDC and JBMMC is "illegal" since Victory tunnel is not owned solely by JBMMC, but by three other corporations and a cooperative, namely Blucor, Helica and CFMC.
Only transfer of rights
NRMDC, however, denied buying Victory Tunnel from JBMMC. It was learned that the deal was simply a transfer of rights and not sale.
"Paano mo ibenta yung bagay na hindi naman sa iyo," said a JBMMC executive who requested anonymity.
Gatchalian, however, admitted they have started clearing operation inside Victory tunnel in preparation for full-blast mining operation of NRMDC next month.
He denied knowledge of the deal between JBMMC and NRMDC.
Another bridge takeover?
Several Diwalwal miners minced no words in saying they will again be forced to seize another bridge to get the attention of authorities.
Buduan said they wouldn't hesitate to do another Kalaw bridge takeover just to prevent NRMDC from engaging in mining operation.
It can be recalled that Diwalwal miners seized Kalaw bridge in Monkayo twice, barricaded the Tagmanok bridge in Mawab and the Bingcungan bridge in Tagum City.
Several miners who attended Thursday's rally in Diwalwal even jokingly asked organizers what bridge they will barricade next.
Maximum tolerance
Lt. Col. Max Caro, chief of the Army's 36th Infantry Batallion stationed in Diwalwal, said he ordered his men to allow the miners "in ventilating their issues."
He said rally organizers already assured him that they will not create trouble in the course of their protest.
During Thursday's rally, the soldiers barricaded the entrance to NRMDC office to prevent protesters from getting near the building.
The miners, however, continued airing their grievances against NRMDC through a megaphone. Rallyists carried several placards accusing government of a hidden agenda and requesting the Army not to be fooled by NRMDC.
It was learned that Mt. Diwata Barangay chief Franco Tito had been summoned on Thursday by officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for a meeting in Manila to discuss the issue.
(January 16, 2004 issue)
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