DENR chief rebukes Zambales town mayor for not stopping mining
Environment secretary Jose Atienza Jr. on Tuesday rebuked a town mayor in Zambales province for not acting on "over-extraction" of minerals in mining operations in his turf, even as he threatened to impose a total moratorium on mining in Zambales.
A statement on the environment department website said Atienza issued the rebuke during a media forum sponsored by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
"I am inclined now to draft a total moratorium in Zambales, the most problematic province in the country in terms of mining. The illegal extraction of minerals in this province in incomparable," he added.
He reminded Sta. Cruz, Zambales mayor Luisito Marty that all local government executives should exercise their powers to curb all illegal activities in their area of jurisdiction.
"They are not required to secure clearance from any agency in exercising their powers. This is already provided for in the Local Government Code," he said.
Atienza issued a strong warning to all small-scale mining operators in the entire province of Zambales.
"Shape up or we will stop all small-scale mining activities in Zambales," he said.
He said anarchy prevails in the small-scale mining sector in Zambales and prodded Zambales Governor Amor Deloso to establish order and assert the rule of law in his province.
According to him, it is the job of local government executives to protect the environment and natural resources in their areas of jurisdiction and stop finger-pointing.
He was irked over Marty's blaming the DENR for inaction over his complaints about the operation of large-scale mining operators which, Marty said, are illegally extracting minerals in Sta. Cruz.
Marty also accused police officials in Zambales for their partiality to large mining companies.
Atienza advised Marty to file charges against police officers who refused to provide police assistance.
"Sue them, then come to me and I will help you. But you have to show me first that you are doing your job," he said.
Last February 28, Atienza ordered the confiscation of about 200,000 metric tons of nickel ore valued at $4 million illegally extracted by A3 UNA Corp. in Sta. Cruz, Zambales.
He ordered the confiscation after the mining firm failed to produce appropriate documents covering the nickel laterites/saprolite ore, waiting for shipment at the company's private pier in Brgy. Bolitoc, Sta. Cruz.
A3 UNA is a holder of a small-scale mining permit and as such, it is only allowed to extract not more than 50,000 metric tons of nickel ore annually.
But considering its stockpile of 200,000 metric tons and another 45,000 metric tons shipped out last month, the firm is highly believed to have engaged in over-extraction in violation of the law. - GMANews.TV
A statement on the environment department website said Atienza issued the rebuke during a media forum sponsored by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
"I am inclined now to draft a total moratorium in Zambales, the most problematic province in the country in terms of mining. The illegal extraction of minerals in this province in incomparable," he added.
He reminded Sta. Cruz, Zambales mayor Luisito Marty that all local government executives should exercise their powers to curb all illegal activities in their area of jurisdiction.
"They are not required to secure clearance from any agency in exercising their powers. This is already provided for in the Local Government Code," he said.
Atienza issued a strong warning to all small-scale mining operators in the entire province of Zambales.
"Shape up or we will stop all small-scale mining activities in Zambales," he said.
He said anarchy prevails in the small-scale mining sector in Zambales and prodded Zambales Governor Amor Deloso to establish order and assert the rule of law in his province.
According to him, it is the job of local government executives to protect the environment and natural resources in their areas of jurisdiction and stop finger-pointing.
He was irked over Marty's blaming the DENR for inaction over his complaints about the operation of large-scale mining operators which, Marty said, are illegally extracting minerals in Sta. Cruz.
Marty also accused police officials in Zambales for their partiality to large mining companies.
Atienza advised Marty to file charges against police officers who refused to provide police assistance.
"Sue them, then come to me and I will help you. But you have to show me first that you are doing your job," he said.
Last February 28, Atienza ordered the confiscation of about 200,000 metric tons of nickel ore valued at $4 million illegally extracted by A3 UNA Corp. in Sta. Cruz, Zambales.
He ordered the confiscation after the mining firm failed to produce appropriate documents covering the nickel laterites/saprolite ore, waiting for shipment at the company's private pier in Brgy. Bolitoc, Sta. Cruz.
A3 UNA is a holder of a small-scale mining permit and as such, it is only allowed to extract not more than 50,000 metric tons of nickel ore annually.
But considering its stockpile of 200,000 metric tons and another 45,000 metric tons shipped out last month, the firm is highly believed to have engaged in over-extraction in violation of the law. - GMANews.TV
Labels: Amor Deloso, marty, mining, zambales
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
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