News
Cimatu Orders PMRB to Declare Minahang Bayan
Following the dialogue with the members of the association of small scale miners of Itogon, Benguet, on October 17, 2018, DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu reaffirmed his position on the closure of all illegal mining activities in the Cordilleras pending the declaration of a Minahang Bayan by the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB).
Responding to the petition made by the affected miners in Itogon for the DENR Chief to lift the stoppage order on all mining activities in Cordillera, Cimatu assured the mining community of Itogon that the order will be lifted only upon the declaration of a Minahang Bayan by the PMRB inside the Benguet Corporation patented area in Sitio Luneta, Barangay Loakan, Itogon, Benguet.
“I am directing the PMRB to declare a Minahang Bayan for our miners,” Cimatu declared.
Cimatu underscored to the miners that the government’s utmost priority remains the safety of its citizens. He reassured those in attendance that they still retain their rightful claim to the mineral resources of their area even in the face of the stoppage order.
“Minero kayo noon, minero parin kayo ngayon, at mga minero parin kayo sa mga susunod na panahon,” he said explaining that the declaration of the Minahang Bayan shall legalize their mining activities.
Geologist Liza Manzano of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau presented the findings of the Geohazard and technical assessment of Itogon that left 89 persons dead and 8 missing up to date.
Manzano characterized the area as highly vulnerable and a “shopping mall to all kinds of catastrophes” because of its susceptibility to all geological hazards.
“You’ve got it all,” she said, describing the danger of inhabiting the devastated mine sites in Itogon.
Cimatu also welcomed the commitment of the mining community to comply with all regulatory measures to be imposed by the different government offices for proper operation.
Further, the mining community of Itogon also committed to enter into a stewardship agreement in relation to reforestation and environmental protection and rehabilitation.
“Thank you for your benevolent offer, and I readily accept them,” he said, after reading a portion of the petition signed by the miners.
The DENR Chief also cited the commitment made by the miners to sell their gold to the Central Bank, urging them to contribute to governmental revenue by paying the right taxes from their income.
The PMRB shall be chaired by the MGB-CAR Regional Director Fay Apil.|AJTuraray
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