THE 17th City Council is expected to tackle today (Tuesday) a resolution declaring Davao City a mining-free zone.
The resolution is one of the four items in the calendar of business for the regular session that starts at 10 a.m.
The item was approved under first reading on July 23 in relation to the privilege speech of Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang relative to the unconfirmed reports that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Davao has endorsed to its central office the application for mining exploration in the area of Paquibato District.
Officials of the different government agencies have been invited to appear in Tuesday’s session "to shed light in aid of legislation."
Invited were Edilberto L. Arreza, MGB-Davao director; Mario Luis Jacinto, City Planning and Development officer; Elisa Madrazo, City Environment and Natural Resources Office head; and Lilibeth Malabanan, National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) OIC regional director.
The local lawmaking body also sent invitations to Datu Ruben Labawan, Ata-Manobo IP community representative; Datu Rolly Latawan, barangay chief of Tapak, Paquibato District; Datu Jose Amban; Datu Mario Lausan; Doming Bucayla, barangay chief of Salapawan, Paquibato District; and Jaime Manyauron, barangay chief of Mapula, Paquibato District.
Geronimo Palermo, president of Pensons Mining Corporation and Alberto Mining Corporation, was also requested to attend.
Dayanghirang earlier revealed that at least two mining firms from Manila have applied for permits for explorations in Paquibato and Marilog Districts -- Alberto Mining Corporation and Penson's Mining Corporation.
The City Council expressed its opposition against any mining activity in the city.
In fact, Dayanghirang has mulled on crafting an ordinance that will make the city free from any mining activity.
However, MGB management division chief Wilfredo Moncano bared that the two mining firms already signed memorandum of agreements (MOA) with the lumad chieftains and village chiefs in Paquibato district to do exploration in the area.
The MOA was signed on February 18, 2011.
Leoncio "Ka Parago" Pitao, leader of the First Pulang Bagani Battalion of the New People's Army, has also expressed strong opposition against any mining activities in the areas of Paquibato.
"Ang among barog diha kung kitang mga pobre, kitang mga taga dinhi maoy maka benepisyo sa mina, sugot mi. Pero kung mga langyaw maoy muari, ayaw na lang," Pitao told reporters in an interview on July 31.