by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY, April 20 (PIA) - - Amid reports of rampant illegal mining activities in Zamboanga Peninsula, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-IX headed by regional director Albert Johann B. Jacildo has recently issued a cease and desist order (CDO) against all illegal miners operating in the region.
Covered by this order are small-scale mining operations without People’s Small-Scale Mining Contract (PSMC), Carbon-in-Pulp (CIP) gold processing operations without Mineral Processing Permit (MPP) and other mining operations without the necessary permits issued by government agencies concerned.
For its part, the TVI Resource Development (Phils), a large-scale mining firm operating in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, has welcomed MGB’s issuance of cease and desist order against illegal miners saying it would “stop the environmentally destructive methods and processes being used in illegal small-scale mining projects.”
TVI also believed the CDO would end the growing lawlessness in areas where illegal small-scale mining operates and stop illegal employment of child workers and harassment of indigenous people (IP)/community opposed to illegal mining operations.
MGB-IX’s CDO said “illegal mining activities in this region have become rampant and alarming as it has not only depleted government mineral resources but caused unnecessary violence in affected areas resulting to loss of people’s lives.”
This observation holds true to illegal small-scale mining operations at Sibutad town in Zamboanga del Norte. The Municipal Police Station (MPS) reported this week that a miner died when he fell into an old tunnel. Besides, theft, robbery and other crimes are said to have been happening every now and then near or within the area occupied by illegal small-scale miners. (FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)
