THE local government unit (LGU) of Mati said in a statement on Monday, May 23, 2022, that the mining operations in Barangay Macambol will not cause environmental impacts since protective policies are in place.
The mining operations of Austral-Asia link Mining Corporation and Hallmark Mining Corporation in Barangay Macambol is located outside UNESCO heritage site Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary and four kilometers from the protected site of Pujada Bay Seascape and Landscape.
The mining operations have a total area of 17,215.49 hectares but according to information officer Ben Tesiorna of the Mati City Information Office (CIO), the mining company has not yet resumed operations since the ban of open-pit mining in 2017.
However, they are preparing the needed documentation and awaiting approval of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to resume operations.
“The mining company has been operating since 2004 and it only stopped in 2017 due to the open mining ban,” Tesiorna told SunStar Davao on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
Although the mining companies have not yet officially resumed operations, Tesiorna said mitigating measures are in place for environmental protection including a tripartite monitoring team and water sampling every quarter.
Based on the online statement of Mati LGU, the multi-partite monitoring team (MMT) is composed of elements from the DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Mati City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CiENRO), Mati City Health Office (CHO), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Barangay Macambol unit, and indigenous peoples group leaders.
The MMT will strictly monitor and enforce compliance to several environmental safeguards that include collector sumps, siltation ponds, geo-textile, and water sampling.
Aside from that, the mining companies were issued a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement in 2004 by the DENR to begin their operations. An environmental compliance certificate or ECC was also issued.
Since the mining companies started operations in 2004 and although it is close to two environmentally protected sites, Tesiorna said the Mati LGU has not yet received any official complaints from the residents or the protection team of Mt. Hamiguitan and Pujada Bay.
“Actually there are no complaints coming from the locals since they were consulted back in 2004 and they continue to benefit from the mining company since then,” Tesiorna said.
“Ever since, wala pang nag raise ng (nobody raised) concerns. Wala ring na-monitor na violations or negative impact sa surroundings ng mining site (There were also no reported violations or negative impact around the mining site).”