African miner steps out of Benguet village

MANKAYAN, Benguet – Far Southeast Gold Resources (FSGRI), a subsidiary of the African giant Goldfields Resources has demobilized last week its drill rig in Mankayan, Benguet.

This comes after its confirmation drilling was opposed by protesting villagers and mostly outsiders for more than a year.

FSGRI Spokesperson Marionne Molintas said the firm has full rights by virtue of Mineral Production Sharing Agreement-001 as approved by the government through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

FSGRI has the full legal right to drill at the Madaymen site and all other sites previously approved by the government, the firm said while committing “to strengthen our host communities through projects aimed at improved education, employment, health, livelihood and infrastructure.”

Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company, majority shareholder of FSGRI, claims legal ownership of Madaymen site as according to Knestor Godino, Vice President of LCMC, the land was bought several decades ago from land owners.

The continuing protests and pickets at the now demobilized drilling site are violations of FSGRI and LCMC’s legal rights, said Molintas.

LCMC reportedly is bent on pursuing criminal and civil cases against picketers at the Madaymen site, while in the meantime, FSGRI is conducting geotechnical drilling at other sites in Mankayan.

Affected residents and community leaders in these areas “have welcomed (our) operations as evidenced by various memoranda of understanding and they have started to enjoy the concomitant benefits,” Molintas said.

In November, the South African government still expressed interest in continuing its stake in Benguet gold mining as South African Deputy Minister of Minerals Godfrey Oliphant spoke at the 59th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference here.

Oliphant was also with South African Ambassador Agnes Nyamande-Pitso, saying they will pursue despite stiff opposition here.