IN THE wake of Typhoon Ompong's onslaught, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Monday, September 17, ordered all small-scale mining firms to shut down its operations in the entire Cordillera Administrative Region.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu announced the stoppage of activities of all small-scale mining firms, including the 10 operators given temporary permits.

"In view of this current situation in the Cordilleras to prevent further danger to the lives of our small-scale miners, I officially order cease and desist of all illegal smale-scale mining operations in the whole of Cordillera Administrative Region," Cimatu said in a press conference in Benguet.

"By virtue of what happened, I'm revoking those permits [given to 10 small-scale mining companies], effective today," he added.

Cimatu's directive came amid the search and retrival operations for missing small-sclae miners who may have been buried at a mining shelter in Itogon, Benguet.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., who joined Cimatu in the briefing, said the death toll climed to 54 in the Cordillera Administrative Region alone, as of 6 a.m., Monday.

Cimatu siad military and police officers would be deployed to ensure the implementation of "cease and desist" order against all small-scale miners.

"We ask our small scale miners to cooperate and stop all small scale mining activities here," the Environment chief said.

"The DENR will be sending men from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to effect the stoppage of all mining activities especially here in trouble," he added. (SunStar Philippines)