DAVAO CITY, Philippines
– The Senate has been urged to conduct an investigation on the financiers of
small-scale mining operations following the deadly landslide in Pantukan,
Compostela Valley.
Compostela Valley Gov. Arthur Uy also ordered the creation of a fact-finding team that would look into the involvement of local officials in the mining activities in Pantukan.
“There were reports that reached my office regarding local officials in Pantukan who themselves own tunnels in the mining site,Uy said.
Uy said the fact-finding team would identify the financiers of the small-scale mining activities in Pantukan
Legarda filed Senate Resolution No. 675, stressing specific areas in Pantukan, including Barangay Napnapan where the Jan. 5, 2012 and the April 2011 landslides occurred, have been identified as landslide-prone and the mountain region could collapse from high pressure or big movements, thereby NOT suitable for habitation and mining activities.
“Despite hazard warnings, small miners stay in the mining sites and place their lives at risk for a chance of finding gold instead of relocating to safer places where there is no alternative livelihood, Legarda said.
She noted the report made by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau that said those who were killed or injured in the landslide in Barangay Napnapan were small-scale gold miners who had no permits to mine in the area.
“The tragic incident claimed at least 32 lives,she pointed out.
Legarda said that illegal mining activities in Pantukan are reportedly financed by operators who provide the necessary equipment, such as mechanized pumps and sizable mills, which are too expensive for the small miners to afford.
Compostela Valley Gov. Arthur Uy also ordered the creation of a fact-finding team that would look into the involvement of local officials in the mining activities in Pantukan.
“There were reports that reached my office regarding local officials in Pantukan who themselves own tunnels in the mining site,Uy said.
Uy said the fact-finding team would identify the financiers of the small-scale mining activities in Pantukan
Legarda filed Senate Resolution No. 675, stressing specific areas in Pantukan, including Barangay Napnapan where the Jan. 5, 2012 and the April 2011 landslides occurred, have been identified as landslide-prone and the mountain region could collapse from high pressure or big movements, thereby NOT suitable for habitation and mining activities.
“Despite hazard warnings, small miners stay in the mining sites and place their lives at risk for a chance of finding gold instead of relocating to safer places where there is no alternative livelihood, Legarda said.
She noted the report made by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau that said those who were killed or injured in the landslide in Barangay Napnapan were small-scale gold miners who had no permits to mine in the area.
“The tragic incident claimed at least 32 lives,she pointed out.
Legarda said that illegal mining activities in Pantukan are reportedly financed by operators who provide the necessary equipment, such as mechanized pumps and sizable mills, which are too expensive for the small miners to afford.
“In my opinion, the
bottomline of this topic is DISCIPLINE. If only these small scale miners were
disciplined enough to follow hazard warnings given by the government and if
only they didn’t risk placing their houses near the mining site, the accident
happened could have been prevented. However, these small scale miners are not
to blame, there are people behind these operations who financed the operations
and provided expensive equipment for mining. I guess this is another lesson
that all Filipinos should keep in mind that lack of discipline might lead to
death.”
Posted By: Innah Marie Luna
Reference:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=767342&publicationSubCategoryId=63
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