By Eireene Jairee Gomez | The Manila Times | August 6, 2021

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) on Thursday said it has shut down illegal mining activities in Quezon town in Nueva Vizcaya province.

In a statement, the DENR-MGB said various illegal mining equipment such as ball mills, shafting, diesel engines and pulleys were dismantled during a series of operations conducted last July 27 to 29 at Barangay Runruno.

“In the case of illegal small-scale mining, miners tend to dig and drill with no proper control on extractive operations. These unregulated mining activities pose dangers to the environment and to human lives,” DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said.

The joint operations were carried out by MGB-Region 2, DENR Region 2, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Nueva Vizcaya, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Aritao, National Bureau of Investigation-Region 2, Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, in coordination with mining firm FCF Minerals Corp.

According to MGB-Region 2 Director Mario Ancheta, the absence of documents, permits or authority in the conduct of mining operations and the transport of minerals/mineral products and byproducts will be considered as prima facie evidence of illegal mining.

“This shall cause the seizure of the mineral and byproducts and the tools, conveyances and equipment used in the commission of the offense in favor of the government,” Ancheta said.

Prior to the operations, MGB-Region 2 directed an investigation of ongoing small-scale mining operations within the Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement contract area of FCF.

The MGB said the mining firm has not yet utilized or developed the area.

Given its location, Ancheta pointed out, the mining area cannot be declared as a “Minahang Bayan” site.

Furthermore, he said, despite constant dialogues and warnings, the small-scale miners, who were identified to be illegal settlers, continued to defy the MGB’s order to vacate and leave the area.

The MGB-Region 2 served cease-and-desist orders against the illegal mining activities last July 7 to 9.

“I have previously proposed to these illegal miners to look for other areas that can be applied for as Minahang Bayan since this area is prohibited. However, they continue to extract the area,” Ancheta said.

Charges will be filed against the miners for violation of Republic Act (RA) 7942 or the “Philippine Mining Act of 1995” and RA 7076 or the “People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991”.

The law states, “No small-scale mining shall be undertaken outside a Minahang Bayan and that no entity shall engage in small-scale mining without a small-scale mining contract.”

The MGB-Region 2 has been monitoring the activities in the area since a landslide occurred on Nov. 13, 2020.

It previously recommended to the local government of Quezon to relocate the illegal settlers.

Source: The Manila Times