Application up on mining of 10 Guimaras villages
A major mining corporation is intending to do exploration works in over 2,400 hectares of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. Target minerals of the company, Makati City-based Fil-Asian Strategic Resources and Properties Corporation are Gold, Copper and other mineral resources with the exploration set to cover ten barangays (villages) here.
A Notice of Application was sent by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to Nueva Valencia Mayor Alejandro Araneta. As such, pursuant to a DENR administrative order, corresponding notices were asked to be sent out primarily on the affected barangays.
The News Today (TNT) gathered that exploration if granted will be in territorial areas of barangays Napandong, Sto. Domingo, Lucmayan, San Roque, Salvacion, Lapaz, Cabalagnan, Canhawan and Igdarapdap.
Stories have since abound on the untapped presence of Gold throughout the island-province yet it was to be the first time since a major exploration came up.
A public hearing was called by Mayor Araneta set on Tuesday, March 18 with the town hall as venue.
Among those set to be called are the environment officials of the province and the municipality, environmental groups, government planners and the townsfolk.
Extent of the planned exploration is research work, regional survey, detailed and semi-detailed survey and sub-surface investigation.
"Any and all persons having adverse claims, protests, and/or opposition to the above-mentioned application(s) are hereby notified that their advance claims should be filed within thirty (30) days from the last date of publication/posting, directly with the Regional Office or through any concerned Community Environment Natural Resources Office (CENRO) or Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer of DENR for filing in the Regional Office for purposes of its resolution by the Panel of Arbitrators and/or concerned appellate body(ies) pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 7942 and its implementing Rules and Regulations," Leo Van Juguan of the DENR's Mines and Geosciences Bureau wrote.
Initial concerns have been voiced though by environmental groups against any mining in Guimaras. The province is geared towards agri-tourism. Further still, are gnawing concerns on the island's location within a faultline.