Illegal mine in Baguio closed

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY — A multi-agency task force here has closed and an illegal small-scale mine operating in Barangay Kias and seized 10 sacks of gold ore.

The task force composed of representatives from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in the Cordillera, city environment and parks management office and the Philippine National Police confiscated numerous small-scale mining tools and closed the mine tunnel to prevent mining activities.

Small-scale mining is prohibited in this mountain resort city because of negative effects of diggings in the city’s highly fractured soil and rock formations.

The operation of the tunnel was subject of a complaint filed by residents who feared tunneling activities might be encroaching on their residential areas and threatening their lives and properties.

Because of the substantial income derived due to the prevailing high metal prices in the world market, unregulated mining continues to proliferate in the city.

Small-scale miners are forced to pursue their illegal operations since they have a hard time securing the consent of large-scale mining companies which have mining claims over most parts of the city and nearby Benguet province.