Mining spurs economy in rural areas, says solon

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The existence of large and small-scale mining operations in some parts of this vegetable-producing province has greatly helped in improving the economic conditions of people, especially those who seek sustainable sources of living.

This was underscored by Rep. Samuel M. Dangwa here who added the call of the militant sector for the stoppage of mining operations in the province, particularly in Mankayan town, because of their inclination that it is the root cause of the sinking areas there is ill-advised.

For the past several decades, thousands of people from the different parts of the province and nearby provinces of Cordillera and the Ilocos and Cagayan regions have been gainfully employed in big and small mining firms operating in the province, thus, providing them a steady source of income for their families.

Dangwa said there was need for the conduct of an independent investigation on the real cause behind the sinking of a huge portion of Poblacion, Mankayan before putting the blame on who is really the one responsible for the subsidence which has put the lives of thousands of individuals at risk.

Once mining operations in the province stops, the lawmaker revealed thousands of families will be left without a descent source of income to sustain their daily living, thus, it would eventually result to chaos and anarchy.

Dangwa explained it is important for all stakeholders to get together and try to analyze the various reports and recommendations relative to the sinking area in Mankayan so that they could come out with a more practical, acceptable and realistic solution rather than calling for the outright stoppage of mining operations that could be detrimental to the country’s sustained economic growth.

The Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMC) in Mankayan town and the Philex Mining Corporation in Tuba are the only remaining large-scale mining operations in the province after the closure of the Itogon-Suyoc Mines Inc. (ISMI), Benguet Explorations and Benguet Corporation in the early 1990s.

At the same time, there are at least 25,000 individuals who are engaged in legal and clandestine small-scale mining activities in the towns of Tuba, Itogon, Mankayan, Bakun and Atok.

Dangwa claimed the combined contribution of the large and small-scale mining operations in the province is over P15 billion a year plus stable employment for thousands of people.

He argued if the cause-oriented groups will be successful in stopping mining operations in the province, how will they provide sustained sources of livelihood for the displaced employees so that they could maintain their descent living.

According to him, chaos will reign in the province once people will be deprived of their sources of livelihood which has been time and again proven when big companies in different parts of the country were closed due to too much interference of militant groups who eventually abandoned the displaced workers. -- Dexter A. See