Zambales mayor told: Stop illegal mining
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza yesterday ordered Sta. Cruz, Zambales Mayor Luisito Marty to stop the over-extraction of minerals in his area of jurisdiction.
Failure to do so could mean that Marty is part of a syndicate involved in illegal mining in his hometown, Atienza said.
Atienza made the challenge when he and Marty guested in the regular media forum organized by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Catholic Mass Media and Radio Veritas.
“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,” Atienza said.
He also warned all small-scale mining operators in Zambales to shape up or the DENR will stop all small-scale mining activities in the province.
He also prodded Zambales governor Amor Deloso to establish order and assert the rule of law in his province.
Citing his experience as a three-termer mayor of Manila, Atienza reminded Zambales officials that it is the job of local government executives to protect the environment and natural resources.
“Ang trabaho ko, trabaho ko, ang trabaho mo, trabaho mo. Gawin mo ng tama ang trabaho mo at nasa likod mo ako,” Atienza said.
Atienza was irked by Marty’s complaint that the DENR did not act on his report about the operation of large-scale mining firms which he said are illegally extracting minerals in Sta. Cruz. Marty also accused police officials In Zambales of partiality to large mining companies.
The DENR chief 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 first show me your sincerity and that you are doing your job.”
Atienza informed the bishops that the DENR is determined to stop all illegal activities in Zambales.
“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 is incomparable,” he said.
Last February, 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 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 Barangay Bolitoc.
A3 UNA is a holder of a small-scale mining permit and, as such, is only allowed to extract not more than 50,000 metric tons of nickel ore annually.
Failure to do so could mean that Marty is part of a syndicate involved in illegal mining in his hometown, Atienza said.
Atienza made the challenge when he and Marty guested in the regular media forum organized by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Catholic Mass Media and Radio Veritas.
“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,” Atienza said.
He also warned all small-scale mining operators in Zambales to shape up or the DENR will stop all small-scale mining activities in the province.
He also prodded Zambales governor Amor Deloso to establish order and assert the rule of law in his province.
Citing his experience as a three-termer mayor of Manila, Atienza reminded Zambales officials that it is the job of local government executives to protect the environment and natural resources.
“Ang trabaho ko, trabaho ko, ang trabaho mo, trabaho mo. Gawin mo ng tama ang trabaho mo at nasa likod mo ako,” Atienza said.
Atienza was irked by Marty’s complaint that the DENR did not act on his report about the operation of large-scale mining firms which he said are illegally extracting minerals in Sta. Cruz. Marty also accused police officials In Zambales of partiality to large mining companies.
The DENR chief 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 first show me your sincerity and that you are doing your job.”
Atienza informed the bishops that the DENR is determined to stop all illegal activities in Zambales.
“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 is incomparable,” he said.
Last February, 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 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 Barangay Bolitoc.
A3 UNA is a holder of a small-scale mining permit and, as such, is only allowed to extract not more than 50,000 metric tons of nickel ore annually.
Labels: denr, mining, Sta. Cruz, zambales map
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
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