SC stops mining operations in Zambales

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday granted a petition filed by the residents of Masinloc town in Zambales to stop mining operations in the province.

The high court issued a temporary environmental protection order preventing the implementation of the 94 small-scale mining permits (SSMP) issued by Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane, which are allegedly being used for large-scale mining operations.

It also stopped the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the provincial capitol from further issuing mining permits.

The high court also referred the case to the Court of Appeals for hearing.

The petitioners, through their lawyer Joel Butuyan, asked the SC the other day to issue a temporary restraining order against the mining operations in the province.

They said the SSMPs were issued based on a long repealed law, Presidential Decree 1899.  They said Republic Act 7076 provides that small-scale mining operations could only be made in areas declared as minahang bayan.

The petitioners alleged that the small-scale mining grantees are merely using the more relaxed requirements for SSMPs to circumvent stricter requirements under the law.

The government has suspended the issuance of large-scale mining permits pending a review of the government’s mining policy.

Apart from Ebdane, respondents named in the petition were DENR Secretary Ramon Paje, the Philippine National Police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.