ILOILO – The mining exploration on Pan de Azucar island in Concepcion town was brought to the attention of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
The governor said he has already issued a directive to Atty. Cesar Emmanuel Buyco, head of the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), to look into how the mining exploration of TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. has started on the island.
Pan de Azucar includes the barangays of Tambaliza, Talotoan, and Macatunao.
He also mulls holding a meeting between the local government unit (LGU) of Concepcion, residents and barangay officials of the three barangays, government agencies involved in issuing exploration permits, and the said company.
“I will meet the LGU concerned and the private company so that we can level off with them. It should be rationalized; we want a rationalization of the conduct of the mining activities in the province, not here only in Iloilo, kundi sa bilog nga Pilipinas,” Defensor said.
Although under the Mining Act, the national government, through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has the authority to issue a permit for mining operations, Defensor believes that the concerned LGU should also be in the loop.
“Waay na nagahapit sa province. Waay man kita gusto nga mag-layering, but that is the natural resource of the province. Dapat at the first instance, kabalo na kita sina kag we will attend to that sa punto de vista nga ginasiling ko,” Defensor added.
The governor mentioned that it is also important that the company informs the localities out of respect and since it is the LGU that maintains the environment.
“Does it follow that ma–deretso ang mining company sa bukid sang Iloilo nga wala sang pormalidad nga nagahapit anay sa LGUs naton? So, dapat may ara na because we are charged with the management of our natural resources. We have PGENRO nga obligasyon nila ina. Dapat may kahilabtanan kita, right from the very start. So dira ako, we say we need a rationalization there,” the governor said.
With these, Defensor is eyeing to lobby the national government and lawmakers to level off the guidelines for issuing mining permits to be fair for both the national government and local government units.
These past weeks, the issue gained attention after residents intensified protests in the ongoing mining exploration on Pan de Azucar Island.
Leo Ferraris, Barangay Captain of Talotoan, said majority of residents oppose the mining exploration.
“The majority here do not agree. I stand with them,” Ferraris said in a DYRI RMN Iloilo interview.
The residents’ opposition intensified after noticing large equipment being deployed in the last few weeks. They feared the possibility of full-scale mining rather than mere exploration.
“I oppose mining because it’s dangerous for us, especially for our mountains and the farmlands beneath. The residents are aware of this,” added Ferraris.
He explained that there had been mining exploration in their barangay in the past. However, he observed that the mining company managed the area by replanting trees after sampling.
“I was an official back then. Initially, their drilling didn’t cause problems as they would plant trees after their activities. I inspected the site then, and it seemed fine. But now, the system seems different,” he added.
Students from Fernando A. Arlos Memorial School and Diogracias Arlos National High School, along with locals from Barangay Tambaliza, are also calling for an end to the mining exploration. They urge both the LGU of Concepcion and the Iloilo provincial government to take action.
On Thursday, Nov. 30, students displayed placards in opposition to the mining. The placards bore messages such as “Don’t destroy our island,” “Save our home,” and “No to mining,” among others./PN
