Vizcaya forms mining board

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – A multi-sectoral body to look after the operations of small-scale miners in this mineral-rich province has been formed amid the proliferation of illegal miners using unregulated explosives.

The Mines and Geoscien-ces Bureau (MGB) said the newly formed provincial mining and regulatory board will address issues on small-scale mining, which has been going on unabated despite reports of deaths and landslides in several sites.

“We are just waiting for the special order signifying the approval of the (board) from (Environment and Natural Resources) Secretary Ramon Paje. Hopefully we can have it by the end of this year,” said engineer Mario Ancheta, MGB director for Cagayan Valley.

Led by an MGB representative with Gov. Luisa Cuaresma as co-chairperson, the board also comprises representatives from various organizations such as the Church-based Social Action Center as well as mining companies operating in the province.

Once the special order is released, the board members, Ancheta said, will again convene to map out plans toward regulating mining applications and operations in the province, which has been a haven for thousands of unregistered small-scale miners.

“Its formation is very timely considering that the mining industry (in the province) is rapidly growing,” he said.

Cuaresma earlier had ordered the arrest of smugglers of minerals, whose illegal extraction has been going on unabated in remote mountain areas for years now, especially in the villages of Didipio and Runruno in Kasibu and Quezon towns, respectively.

Cuaresma also called on the Korean embassy to advise its nationals to refrain from engaging in illegal mining in the province, saying those who will be apprehended will be dealt with accordingly.

Besides Koreans, other foreigners like Chinese and Taiwanese were also reportedly engaging locals, with the alleged backing of some local officials, in illegally extracting and selling unprocessed minerals like gold and copper.