Vizcaya governor suspends manganese mining

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Gov. Luisa Lloren-Cuaresma ordered the suspension of all forms of manganese mining activities here in the wake of mounting complaints of "environmental violations" reportedly committed by mining contractors.

Cuaresma said the other day that suspension of mining permits of contractors last week also includes the suspension of all planned and proposed exploration activities in all potential manganese areas in this mineral-rich province.

"The suspension will last for 30 days or upon compliance of the contractors of all the agree stipulated in their operation permits," she said.

According to Cuaresma, the contractors have violated some of the provisions in the permits, including the use heavy equipment which reportedly resulted in indiscriminate and massive diggings of soil, destroying the mountains and polluting the rivers in the process.

She clarified that the clearances she issued to the contractors prohibit the indiscriminate use of heavy equipment as their operations were only limited to small scale mining. Some, she added, were also encroaching into nearby areas beyond their approved areas to extract minerals.

Now very much in demand in foreign markets, manganese, when mixed with other metals like cobalt, nickel and iron compounds make metal products stronger.

Raw manganese from Nueva Vizcaya are being shipped to Poro Point in La Union en route either to China or Taiwan for the flotation process.

A raw manganese ore is being sold by local contractors to their foreign buyers, mostly Chinese and Taiwanese businessmen, at $100 per metric ton.

The local Catholic Church and environmentalist groups were demanding the immediate cancellation of all manganese projects here, saying that they are "anti-environment and anti-people project."

Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena even castigated local officials for allowing the project to proceed without proper consultation with the affected villagers.

"Leaders are elected to serve the common good. The laws of the land are in place in order to protect the interest of the common good. Did the authorities follow the laws?" he asked.

Villena especially mentioned the manganese project in remote sitio Burburnay, Barangay Bonifacio in Quezon town here, describing it as "illegal, immoral and environmentally destructive."

The project is being undertaken by a local contractor, Kablaaw Manganese Association. Massive exploration and excavation activities are now reportedly being undertaken.

Villena said several areas in the village are now "environmentally altered" as a result of the indiscriminate and massive diggings and soil backfilling. This, he said, would result in serious landslides when rains come, endangering the lives of the villagers.

The project, Villena said, would also endanger a stream, which is a major source of drinking water for the villagers.

Other proposed manganese project sites here include several villages in the inner towns of Villaverde, Bagabag, Dupax Del Norte, Dupax Del Sur, Aritao and Kasibu.