Mining seen to benefit remote Benguet town

By Dexter A. See

BAKUN, Benguet — A Canadian-aided mining company is expected to bring progress in this mineral-rich and remote town through mining exploration activities to find mineral deposits that could help improve the living condition of people living in this far-flung community.

The Da Gama Mining Exploration, which has a mining lease contract with Gamban Minerals Development Corporation, holder of a mine exploration permit, intends to explore an area of over 812 hectares at Sitio Tabbac in Ampusongan here simultaneous to the conduct of social and environmental development projects for the benefit of the local residents.

Juanito Assuncion, community relations officer of the mining company, pointed out that their exploration activities will be confined in a more or less 50-hectare area within the jurisdiction of Ampusongan, thus, there will be no eminent destruction to property and the environment.

Because of the conduct of the two-year exploration of the limited area, Assuncion said consultations have been done and will continuously be done with the affected residents and communities so that social, economic, and environmental development projects will be fully implemented in partnership with the various villagers so that they will be the ones to enjoy the fruits of development in remote villages.

Several surface claimants already gave their consent for the conduct of drilling operations in the place contrary to the stand of individuals who initially staged a protest against the mining explorations even though they are not from the same place where such operations should be conducted.