Bureau defends mining activities

CEBU, Philippines - The Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources assured the public that operating mining companies in Central Visayas have installed and maintained standard rain gauges and other necessary measures in their respective mining sites so as not to cause hazardous impacts such as landslide, flooding and other geological hazards.

Rain gauges were installed to provide information to municipalities that would help alert residents on potential areas prone to these disasters.

Following reports alleging that massive mining or quarrying in Naga town caused the Pangdan River to overflow during the last week of November when tropical depression Urduja brought rains in the province, MGB-7 headed by regional director Roger de Dios insisted that it is the increase in the volume of rainfall and not the mining activities that have triggered the incident.

Rainfall data obtained by MGB-7 from the existing standard rain gauge in barangay Don Andres Soriano (Lutopan) area maintained by Carmen Copper Corporation indicated that on November 23 to 25 of this year, the rainfall reading was 58.81 centimeters which is almost twice over the 31 cm. measured during typhoon Frank on June 2008.

The rainfall data from Lutopan area was used as basis because it is nearer to the mountain barangays in Naga.

Mining companies with fully installed standard rain gauge in Cebu are Apo Cement Corporation/Apo Land & Quarry Corporation in Naga, Carmen Copper Corporation in Toledo City, Taiheiyo Cement Philippines, Inc.; and Solid Earth Development Corporation in San Fernando and Philippine Mining Service Corporation-Dolomite Mining Corporation in Alcoy.

In other provinces, compliant companies are the Philippine Mining Service Corporation-Bohol Limestone Corporation in Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol; Lazi Bay Resources Development, Inc. in Lazi, Siquijor; and the Goodyield Resources Development, Inc. in Ayungon, Negros Oriental.– Jessica Ann R. Pareja/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)