Albay, Sorsogon govs reiterate call for Lafayette restart

The governors of Albay and Sorsogon reiterated yesterday their joint position that Lafayette’s polymetallic project in Rapu-Rapu should be allowed to resume operations after its remedial measures passed all tests.

Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez and Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee said in a joint statement that the region’s biggest investor deserves no less since it had followed the rules and due process and met all conditions the government had imposed.

They said the company spent P400 million for the required remedial measures, knowing that the rules would entitle it to a test-run once it is ready.

Otherwise, they said investors would think the rules are not being followed and their investments will not have the full protection of the law.

Lee said Sorsogon must move on, adding that it has suffered enough from the fish scare hoax that was started by anti-mining groups to stop the project.

The issue is no longer the spills at Lafayette but rather whether the new management is true to its word to fully comply with all the conditions and rules for its resumption of operations, they said.

"That the company has been asking to be tested under the full monitoring of all parties, including those opposed to it, speaks of an unprecedented transparency we have never seen before. And to think that all it is asking for is for due process to be followed," they said.

The joint statement was issued following a groundswell of support for the project by private entities and local government units, particularly the Sangguniang Bayan of Rapu-Rapu, which asked that Lafayette be given a second chance to conduct responsible mining.

Gonzalez and Lee expressed confidence that Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes would uphold the rule of law and act fairly in his final decision.

Barangay officials and residents living around the project site came forward last Tuesday to tell Reyes, who visited the project, to say that it is their only hope for a decent job and for their children to get proper education and that it deserves a second chance.

They expressed their commitment to work with the new Lafayette management to ensure its conduct of responsible mining beneficial to their communities.