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Thursday, March 10, 2005
Government to mine $1.8B in gold in Diwalwal
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Government will spearhead the extraction of the remaining gold deposits in Diwalwal estimated at US$1.8 billion.
Environment Secretary Mike Defensor said the government will be mining on levels 600 and below the Balite and Tinago veins in the gold rush mountain of Diwalwal with an effort of making the area a world-class mine site.
Defensor assured the affected miners, estimated to number around 4,000, though that they will not be displaced from Diwalwal and the government will absorb them once the mining operation starts.
Rough estimate of miners working in Diwalwal is, however, placed at more than 4,000. Total population in the gold-rush area is estimated to reach 40,000.
Surprisingly, miners and local officials welcome the government's plan.
A miner who requested anonymity said the government plan is beneficial to the small miners in Diwalwal since it will be exclusive between the two parties and will not include the big mining corporations in the area.
Monkayo Mayor Manuel Brillantes Jr. said the plan of the government in mining level 600 and below of Diwalwal is a welcome move since it would give more tax revenues to his municipality resulting in better service for his people.
Another miner told Sun.Star Davao though such a plan has long existed but has yet to be implemented.
"Dapat gawin na agad nila at wag na yung puro lang sila satsat," the miner said. (They should do it soon and not just talk about it.)
The miner added that the Balite and Tinago areas in Diwalwal are supposedly off limits to small miners but is in fact being mined now by some miners associated with miner Jose Nelson "Tata" Sala.
Arroyo recently ordered the inclusion of Sala in the country's most wanted list.
| Post your experiences to the Sun.Star Graduation section. Click here. | 2005-02-24 04:52:02
mcalvo - My graduation was unforgettable to me and to my classmates. I was so drunk the night before graduation. During the ceremony i dozed to the point of snooring even when i was already standing i was half sleeping. Our dean has to call my name twice and the person behind me has to push me just to wake me up... graduations are memorable...enjoy and congratulations to all graduates!
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(March 10, 2005 issue)
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