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Environment | Communities | Mines&Money FIRST AID TRAINING. TWENTY-TWO employees from the MGB-Central Office (and 14 technical personnel from the MGB-Regional Offices (ROs) participated in the said 3rd Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support Training, led by the Mining Environment and Safety Division in cooperation with the Philippine Red Cros. The training aims to equip MGB employees with the basic knowledge and skills on first aid and life support techniques. It was conducted from June 3-8, 2013 at the Eurotel Hotel, North EDSA, Quezon City. MGB PHOTO
Only in the Philippines: Mining now a crime in Catanduanes LEGAZPI CITY--Imprisonment of at least five years and a fine of not less that P10,000 await any person who will be caught doing mining operation in the province of Catanduanes. These are penalties that an ordinance recently passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial legislative board) provides, as it declared the island as a “mining free” province. The Catanduanes ordinance is similar to controversial local mining laws passed by several local government units (LGUs) that run counter to the Mining Act of 1995. According to the law, however, only the national government may have sole jurisdiction over large-scale mining operations, and LGUs may only exercise authority on small-scale miners. Located in the eastern seaboard of the country that is virtually isolated in the Pacific Coast, the province -- although within the typhoon belt -- is blessed with significant landforms and rich forests, thus, it is considered the “last frontier” of Bicol Region in terms of forest cover. Forest lands of Catanduanes cover an approximate area of 69,770 hectares, or 46 percent of its total land area measured at 1,511.5 square kilometers. Of this, 69,684 hectares are classified as forest lands while 86 hectares are still considered unclassified forest lands. Of these, eight percent or 5,876 hectares are dipterocarp old-growth forest; 28 percent or 21,274 hectares, dipterocarp second-growth forest’ three percent or 2,026 hectares, sub-marginal forests; 37 percent or 23,300 hectares, brush land areas; and 30 percent or 22,085 hectares are under other land uses. These forest areas are the main source of all types of water supply in the province for domestic, irrigation, industrial, hydro-electric power generation and recre-
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ation, among others. The provincial government also taps the optimum utilization of water that emanates from the watershed to augment the prevailing power crisis in the province by employing additional hydro-electric power sources. In the light of this situation, the government has set aside large portion of the province’s forest areas into watershed reservation in June 23, 1987 through Presidential Proclamation No. 123. The Catanduanes Watershed Forest Reserve (CWFR) has a total area of 26,010 hectares that covers Baras, Bato, Caramoran, Gigmoto, San Miguel, San Andres, Virac and Viga -- eight of the province’s 11 municipalities.
ric tons of high-quality coal deposits within an 8,000-hectare land area. When converted to cash based on the prevailing world market price, this volume would be worth P9.4 billion, a recent report citing a US geological survey said. This coal area straddles the municipalities of Caramoran, Bagamanoc, Panganiban and Viga -- all major abaca and coconut-producing municipalities that sit at the heart of the island. In March last year, the Department of Energy awarded a new coal mining contract to the Australian-owned Altura Mining Limited through its local subsidiary, Altura Mining
According to the law, only the national government may have sole jurisdiction over large-scale mining operations, and LGUs may only exercise authority on small-scale miners.
Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992, the CWFR became its initial component and the Interim Protected Area Management Board organized in 1996. This significant development for the national concern over environmental protection and biodiversity conservation has opened the gate to explore the opportunities and challenges of managing, protecting and conserving the remaining forest cover and the biological resources in the watershed for the use and enjoyment of the future generations. The province, however, has become attractive to giant mining firms because of its over-1.2 million met-
Philippines Inc., following its successful bid for the first of three Coal Operating Contracts under the Philippine Energy Contracting Round 4 (PECR4). The mining site initially covers 7,000 hectares identified as “Area 3 Catanduanes,” the same site covered by a contract earlier awarded by the DOE under the PECR of 2009 to Monte Oro whose operation was called off due to strong opposition mounted by local environmental protection advocates. The provincial ordinance aims to protect the island’s ecosystem from destruction as well as from the adverse effect of mining, its author, Board Member Giovanni Balmadrid, said in a statement. It covers as prohibited acts the extraction of valuable
Mining firm hits killing 2 workers in Zamboanga ZAMBOANGA CITY-–The Atro Mining-Vitali, Inc. (AMVI) has condemned the “dastardly act” of killing of its two company executives by still unidentified gunmen as it extends sincerest condolences to their families in this trying time of their lives. The AMVI said in a statement that they lost competent and hardworking employees, namely: Eng’r. Felipe Nepomuceno, resident manager; and Rommel Dayrit, Assistant Personnel Officer. The Police Station 1 reported that the victims were having their supper at a roadside restaurant near the company’s office in Sitio Mialim, Barangay Vitali, 83.99 kilometers east of this city, last Friday, July 12, when fatally shot by a motorcycle-riding gunman. A 16-year-old boy identified as Jaypee Joven was also wounded when he was hit by a stray bullet.
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materials or other geological materials from the soil and includes such mining activities as exploration, feasibility, development, utilization and processing large-scale quarry operations. It excludes, however, legal quarrying of gravel and sand for projects directly undertaken by agencies of the national government or by the provincial government provided that it is for basic services such as -- but not limited -- to roads and bridges, school buildings, water and energy utilities and similar public works. “Any person, employee or employment agency who violates the provisions of the ordinance will be penalized with imprisonment of at least five years and must pay a fine of at least P10,000 but not more than P50,000,” Balmadrid said. Moreover, if a violator is a corporation or association, its president and managers or its agent or representative in the Philippines -- in case of a foreign corporation or association -- shall be held liable. According to Balmadrid, mining must not be allowed in the province to avoid its adverse effect on the environment which includes erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity and contamination of soil and water. PNA/MW
SMI-sponsored mine visit The Soccsksargen Region office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region (MGB 12) has recently sent five employees to visit mine site of Carmen Copper Corporation in Toledo City. MGB 12 director Constancio Paye Jr. explained “the visit is a project of the Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) under their Stakeholder Education Program which brings groups and organization to an operating mine to validate the information regarding responsible mining practices, understand the mining process and the technologies used and know how the company and government work together in managing the impacts of mining.” PIA Illegal small-scale mines in Zambales Chromite mining has threatened Mt. Tapulao, which is home to rare plants and animals, said former Zambales governor Amor Deloso. Deloso said the chromite boulders being extracted from the mountain are “as big as houses.” Deloso said mining is done on the eastern side of Mt. Tapulao, on the side of the capital town of Iba. “A tunnel which spans 150 meters inside will weaken the base and foundation [of the mountain],” he said. The office of Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane, however, has denied that it issued small-scale mining permits anywhere in Zambales. Likewise, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) also said it has not issued any mining permit either in Mt. Tapulao. Both are indications that the mining activities in the area are being conducted by illegal miners. Oceana Gold gives back BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya-Mining company Oceana Gold Philippines, Inc.(OGPI) whose operations primarily focus in Barangay Didipio in Kasibu town has already employed 1,700 employees and contractors
The AMVI management lamented the untimely demise of the two employees in the hands of “barbarians who do not appreciate the value of life and the important contributions of the demised employees to the company, in particular, and the community, in general.” “The company and all employees mourn their untimely passing and will surely miss their presence in their midst,” the AMVI said. AMVI called on law enforcement authorities to conduct a speedy and thorough investigation on the killings to bring the perpetrators of the unconscionable act to the bar of law. The AMVI has entered into an Exclusive Mines Operation Agreement with Hard Rock Mineral Trading, Inc. for its Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) covering an area of 2,000 hectares in Barangay Vitali, this city. PNA within the project site. Brennan Lang, Didipio operations general manager, said that since the start of their commercial production of gold and copper deposits in April 1 this year, they had already hired employees, 98 percent Filipinos. He said the company has an unwavering commitment to its local communities as it continues to work closely with various stakeholders in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces. “We have worked conscientiously to develop strong relationships with our local communities in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. This is reflected by the significant number of community members who are directly or indirectly engaged or employed at the mine site,” Lang added. PIA MGB-3 partners with mining firms for geohazard mapping CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga--Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region No. 3 has inked a Memorandum of Agreement with mining companies to facilitate the completion of assessment and geohazard mapping in key areas in Central Luzon. MGB Regional Chief Geologist Noel Lacadin said the firms and the respective areas covered are Eagle Cement Corporation in San Ildefonso, Bulacan; Solid North Corporation for San Rafael, Bulacan; Ore Asia Mining and Development Corporation for Dona Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan; Holcim Phil Incorporated for Angat, Bulacan; Lafarge Norzagaray Plant for Norzagaray, Bulacan; Lafarge Bulacan Plant for San Miguel, Bulacan; Luzon Continental Land Corporation for Baliuag, Bulacan; Benguet Corporation for San Antonio, Zambales; Zambales Diversified Metals Corporation for Castillejos, Zambales; Eramen Mineral Corporation for Subic, Zambales; and Filipinas Mining Corp./ LnL Archipelago Mining Corporation for Olongapo City. MGB Central Office contracted Webcast Corporation who will be conducting the Geohazard Assessment and Mapping for the two cities and 10 municipalities in Pampanga. PIA