Army detachment pushed to curb illegal gold mining

CEBU, Philippines - To curb and address illegal and unauthorized gold mining operations in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the municipal government to establish a detachment center specifically in Barangay San Francisco.

 This developed after at least 11 ball or rod mills operators used in the processing of illegally obtained gold deposits chose to ‘self-demolish’ in a warning issued by government authorities.

 “We have successfully implemented the closure order with Santa Catalina Mayor Nathaniel Electona and the members of the AFP and Philippine National Police,” said MGB 7 Director Loreto Alburo.

 Alburo said an AFP or a PNP station or a center could deter the possible return of these illegal operators while the bureau continues to work for the eventual declaration of a people’s small scale mining area or ‘minahang bayan’ with the provincial mining regulatory board and other stakeholders.

According to MGB 7’s mining engineer III Edward Malahay, the joint team from the AFP, PNP, Santa Catalina municipal government, and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Negros Oriental was able to seize a one unit of rod mill.

The confiscated item was deposited to the Santa Catalina municipal government for custody and safe keeping.

“What was left was a one unit rod mill when we got there and possibly the operators demolished them as a result of the dialogue we conducted last August 14 where we gave them one week to dismantle the equipment,” Malahay added.

For his part, DENR 7 Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said, “we don’t want to let our small-scale miners exposed on the hazards of the illegal activity such as cave-ins, landslides, or contamination from toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide which they use in gold processing.”

In a letter to Electona last August 1, Alburo said the cease and desist order must be carried out.

After investigation, MGB 7 said in its report that “it observed small scale miners employing the amalgamation method or using mercury in recovering the gold through gold panning which is prohibited under Executive Order 79.”

The activity covers more than 500 hectares in Sitios Damuyog, Kabuyonan, and Bancolino in Barangay San Francisco, Sta. Catalina.

Gold panning is a simple method of separating particles of gold from soil or gravels by washing in a pan with water.

Small-scale mining refers to mining activities which rely heavily on manual labor using simple implements and methods and do not use explosives or heavy mining equipment.

Small-scale mining can be improved as stipulated in Executive Order 79 issued by President Benigno Aquino III:  (1) the activities shall comply with Republic Act Number 7076, or the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991, and the Environmental Impact Statement System requirements under Presidential Decree No. 1586; (2) pursuant to RA No. 7076, small-scale mining operations shall be undertaken only within the declared People’s Small-Scale Mining Areas or Minahang Bayan; (3) small-scale mining shall not be applicable for metallic minerals except gold, silver, and chromite, as provided for in RA No. 7076; (4) the use of mercury in small-scale mining shall be strictly prohibited; and, (5) training and capacity building measures in the form of technical assistance for small-scale mining cooperatives and associations shall be conducted by the concerned government agencies.  (FREEMAN)