Ifugao rice terraces closely monitored

Immediately after reading in the Search for Truth column of former Senate President Ernesto Maceda published in The Philippine STAR dated 13 March 2012 the observation made by Senator Loren Legarda on the mining exploration activities at the Ifugao Rice Terraces, we requested the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Cordillera Administrative Region to investigate the matter and to effect necessary action.

MGB-CAR has submitted an initial report dated 29 March 2012 which was discussed during the Joint Coordinating Group meeting held last 17 April 2012, stating that:

• Per record, there are no Small-scale Mining, Sand Gravel and Quarry permits issued to any individual or entity for the purpose of extracting and processing gold, silver, copper and other precious metals within the Ifugao Rice Terraces.

• MGB-CAR has received mining applications whose area covers partly or wholly the rice terraces but were all denied pursuant to the cleansing policy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under DAO No. 2010-04.

• Since October 2011, all “mano-mano” operators doing illegal activities in Banaue and Hungduan were issued Cease and Desist Orders. But the report highlighted that the location of this illegal mining activities is distant and has no direct impact on the rice terraces’ stability, water source and drainage.

The Local Government Unit of Banaue stressed that what the rice terraces urgently needed is the government and private support for slope stabilization and watershed maintenance.

Nevertheless, this office will be waiting for the submission of the result of the investigation conducted by MGB-CAR subject to our validation.

Per directive of DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje, we will keep monitoring the Ifugao Rice Terraces because of its high importance being a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site and a National Treasure, that embodies Filipino’s love for nature, ingenuity and the positive traits of bayanihan.

The National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA) already conducted the mapping survey of the rice terraces determining the much needed information on the meters, bounds and buffer zones for its proper upkeep and to fully segregate these from unscrupulous land speculators, logging, and illegal mining and quarrying activities. —