Alvarez lifts ban on Samar mining

GUIUAN,Eastern Samar —Eastern Samareños were stunned by a memorandum from Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez lifting the ban on mining operations in Eastern Visayas, including the ore transport permit (OTP) issued to Hinatuan Mining Corporation (HMC) in Manicani Island, this town.

The HMC operations in the island have been considered a scourge by residents and other concerned environmentalists in the province because of the destruction wrought on the environment and the suffering inflicted on the people.

The Save Manicani Island Movement, which has been at the forefront of the opposition to the company’s activities, has expressed fears of another bloody struggle to stop of the company’s operations, including the transport of extracted ore.

Early last year an enginner of the HMC and a bystander were killed and two others injured in a protest activity to stop the loading of ore on a truck.

Shortly after, Alvarez ordered the suspension of all mining operations in Region 8.

With the lifting of the suspension order, the Save Manicani Island Movement has called for a strong "Kapit-Bisig" to oppose any operation of HMC. — Ricky Bautista

Union raps Alvarez for 'ignoring' GMA

A labor union leader yesterday took to task Secretary Heherson Alvarez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for allegedly frustrating the efforts of President Arroyo to resolve the problems of Picop Resources Inc.

Joselito Soriano, president of the 8,000-strong Picop labor union, thanked the President for her concern about the well being of Picop’s workers and the welfare of the people in the Caraga region.

He said that the President had been instrumental in the crucial negotiations between Picop management and Alvarez to expedite the automatic conversion of its Timber License Agreement No. 43 into an Integrated Forestry Management Agreement (IFMA).

"It appeared that the President had failed to convince Alvarez to comply with the provision, of DAO 99-53, forcing Picop to bring the matter to court," he said.

Soriano charged that the "stubborn" attitude of Alvarez had been using his position to pursue his "personal agenda" of putting out of business the paper company and render 8,000 people jobless.

He said Alvarez was delving too much on "insignificant side issues," instead of the fundamental issue that contractual obligations entered into by past administrations must be honored and respected.