DENR assures thorough study of mining applications in Guimaras
Atienza
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has committed to make a thorough review of all mining applications in the island province of Guimaras.
"All pending applications will be under serious study," said DENR Secretary Jose "Lito" Atienza during a recent visit here.
Guimaras Gov. Felipe Nava said the communities oppose the move on large-scale mining explorations.
The Guimaras provincial government even initiated a massive awareness campaign by posting several "Spare Guimaras" streamers to urge the agency's Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to deny applications for massive mining activities.
But, DENR-MGB has earlier approved the Exploration Permit Application (Expa) for iron, gold and copper, among other minerals in the island of three mining firms – Fil-Asian Strategic Resources and Properties Corp., Global Philippines Mining and Development Corp. and Next Generation Mining and Development Corp.
"We acknowledge the concerns on the welfare of the island with regards to environmental protection. But we must uphold the law on mining…it must be applied to all. We will review all applications on Guimaras' mining," Atienza said.
He assured the community that all applications "will be subjected to scrutiny."
According to Nava, large-scale mining applications cover 70 to 80 percent of the total land area of the island and they fear it would destroy the island's ecosystem.
He noted the adverse impacts of the oil spill that contaminated one-third of the total land area but practically affected the whole province.
Though mining activities were present in the island since 2003, it was only small-scale, the governor said. (PNA)