Benguet protests mining harassment in Zambales
Benguet Corp. decried harassment tactics employed by Sta. Cruz, Zambales Mayor Luisito Marty after he ordered the confiscation and impounding of several truckloads of nickel ore intended for shipment to Hong Kong.
Marcelo Bolano, Benguet senior vice president for mining and technical services, said the shipments were covered by an official permit issued by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, which the police officers received. He said Marty’s allegations that the shipment were being “smuggled out to unknown destinations” were outright lies.
Bolano said “our truck drivers presented copies of the Environmental Compliance Certificate and Mineral Production Sharing Agreement both issued by the Environment and Natural Resources Department.”
Marty earlier claimed that Benguet had not secured a business permit from the local municipality of Sta. Cruz.
“It is important to note,” said Bolano, “that the Sangguniang Bayan of Sta. Cruz unanimously endorsed our application for a business permit for the approval of the mayor on April 24.”
The Benguet official said the endorsement “became approved de facto if the office of mayor did not act upon it within 10 days.”
“The office of mayor Marty did not act upon the SB endorsement, neither approving nor disapproving it,” said Felipe Floria, Benguet vice president for nickel operations.
“Instead, the municipal treasurer wrote us on May 5, advising of the disapproval of our application by Mayor Marty, 13 days after it was endorsed to his office by the SB,” he added.
“In fact, his continued refusal to act on our application for a business permit prompted us to file an administrative complaint with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales, which had earlier issued a provincial council permit to Benguet through the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board and Task Force Kalikasan, Zambales Province.” Manila Standard Today
Marcelo Bolano, Benguet senior vice president for mining and technical services, said the shipments were covered by an official permit issued by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, which the police officers received. He said Marty’s allegations that the shipment were being “smuggled out to unknown destinations” were outright lies.
Bolano said “our truck drivers presented copies of the Environmental Compliance Certificate and Mineral Production Sharing Agreement both issued by the Environment and Natural Resources Department.”
Marty earlier claimed that Benguet had not secured a business permit from the local municipality of Sta. Cruz.
“It is important to note,” said Bolano, “that the Sangguniang Bayan of Sta. Cruz unanimously endorsed our application for a business permit for the approval of the mayor on April 24.”
The Benguet official said the endorsement “became approved de facto if the office of mayor did not act upon it within 10 days.”
“The office of mayor Marty did not act upon the SB endorsement, neither approving nor disapproving it,” said Felipe Floria, Benguet vice president for nickel operations.
“Instead, the municipal treasurer wrote us on May 5, advising of the disapproval of our application by Mayor Marty, 13 days after it was endorsed to his office by the SB,” he added.
“In fact, his continued refusal to act on our application for a business permit prompted us to file an administrative complaint with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales, which had earlier issued a provincial council permit to Benguet through the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board and Task Force Kalikasan, Zambales Province.” Manila Standard Today
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
2:35 PM
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