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Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Vitali residents urged to voice out against mining
THE Office of the Vice Mayor has stressed the need for the voice of the people of Vitali to be heard amid the controversy over the proposed mining operations in the area.
It said environmental degradation has caused flashfloods in the town.
The Vitali flash flood in 1999 and in recent years are warning signs that the environment is already degraded, the vice mayor said.
Vitali residents are strongly opposed to the proposal allowing Linktone Mining Corporation to do big scale mining in the barangay even as the company said it would strictly comply with the Mining Act and other existing laws.
Vice Mayor Beng Climaco expressed doubts that the existence of the Mining Act would guaranty the protection and welfare of the people and the environment in the area.
She cited the case of the Sta. Cruz Island, which has been declared as a protected area but is continuously devastated by dynamite fishing. Portions of the island are still titled to some individuals.
"What guaranty can this proposed mining activity provide to the people and the environment?", she asked.
Based on her research, section 16 of the General Welfare clause of Republic Act 7160 provides that local government units should protect the rights of the people through balanced ecology.
The Local Government Code, authored by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, has modified the powers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on sections 1,2,3 and 4, Chapter 1, title 14, book 4 of the Administrative Code of 1987 over municipal waters, community forests, maintenance of sound ecological balance, and protection and enhancement of quality of environment.
"The thrust and powers of the department dealing with environment, forests, mineral land are affected by Section 17 of the local government code," the code stressed.
Vice Mayor Climaco said with the existing council resolution endorsing Linktone's application for an environmental certificate clearance with the DENR, what is of essence is for oppositors to put their position in writing and submit it to agencies concerned.
During a dialogue with residents months back, Climaco has asked the City Planning Office to provide and utilize all available resources of the government to compile and document the position of the Vitali residents on the mining issue.
"But again, encroachment on the watershed and experiences of flooding in the proposed mining area are warning signs that by themselves would cause serious threats to the people and the environment," she pointed out.
The vice mayor said the points for consideration in the operation of the mining firm in the area involve security and safety of the people, revenues to be obtained, and background of the proponent to include the capitalization and capability for rehabilitation of the area.
While in Davao City the other day, Climaco also interviewed a researcher who conducted studies on mining operations in Mindanao. Among the things noted is that there is a possibility that the labor supply will come from other areas outside of the city as the labor demand requires certain skills.
Since the beginning, the vice mayor has been aware about the issue as well as the stand of the residents in Vitali. She attended the dialogue initiated by the Mining and Geosciences Bureau in Lantaka Hotel, the dialogue between the City Council and the Linktone Corporation, and the dialogue with the Vitali residents and other agencies at the Metropolitan cathedral. (Press release)
(March 14, 2006 issue)
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