Young miners panning for gold in a riverbed in Paracale. – ILOpic
By JUAN ESCANDOR JR
DAET, CamNorte: The governor of this province has dismissed
allegations that the proliferation of small-scale mining in the province of CamNorte
has his “blessings”.
Gov Edgardo “Egay” Tallado explained that the granting
of permits to small-scale mining ventures, mostly in the towns of Paracale and
Panganiban, is ministerial on his part.
Tallado said the governor is the last one to sign
documents regarding permits to small-scale mining after the endorsement of
barangay authorities and the compliance of requirements issued by the Mines and
Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.
“With more than 10,000 people depending on mining for
their livelihood, how can I reject the permits when they are already endorsed
by barangay officials and the community and the MGB,” the governor said.
Acknowledging that there are illegal small-scale
mining operations in CamNorte, Tallado cited the difficulty in stopping them as
the illegal operations are like “cat and mouse” scenario which the local
authorities cannot totally monitor.
He said the Philippine National Police do not have
enough manpower to go after illegal miners in the far-flung villages who
operate whenever authorities are not around.
Tallado said that it’s when accidents happen that
these illegal mining activities are discovered.
He said the granting of small-scale mining permits has
generated a revenue of P15 million for the provincial government from nothing.
He added that the mining activities during the
previous administration had been almost the same but the provincial government
did not benefit without revenue collection from small-scale mining.
Tallado mentioned the recognition given by the Bureau of
Local Government Finance because of the phenomenal increase in revenue of the
provincial government brought about by the collection of fees from small-scale
mining operations.
In July, the late Interior and Local Government Sec.
Jesse M. Robredo has ordered a probe on the alleged illegal mining activities
in Camarines Norte.
Robredo had accused Tallado that the governor was
condoning illegal mining activities in two mineral-rich towns of CamNorte based
on complaints that reached the former’s department and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Tallado had welcomed the probe because he said he will
be given a chance to clear his name.
He blamed politicians to be behind the move to destroy
his name as the local election nears.
Robredo ordered the agents of the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG) Office of Internal Security and the DILG
Region 5 Director Blandino Maceda to investigate the case against Tallado as
soon as possible.
He said the complaints lodged against Tallado are
serious enough to warrant an immediate
investigation.
The complaint about “flagrant violation of environmental
laws” of three mining companies was lodged by Rio G Paliza, president of
Paracale chapter of the Junior Chamber International Philippines, which was
sent to Robredo, Environment Sec. Ramon Paje and Customs Commissioner Ruffy
Biazon in a letter dated June 18.
Paliza complained the operations of the Uni Dragon Mining and Development
Corp., the Bao Tong Mining Corporation, and Lioaning Fenghua Group Philippine
Mining Company, Inc had been inflicting much damage on the environment, particularly the Paracale
shoreline.
He said the three companies were issued Temporary
Small-Scale Mining Permits by Tallado’s office. – Bicol Mail
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