DENR probes mine firm Oceana Gold in Vizcaya

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya – Tribal folks and environmentalists lauded the commitment of Environment Sec. Gina Lopez to investigate the planned expansion of mining operations by Oceana Gold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) here.

In a meeting here a few days ago with community leaders from Kasibu and Padilla, Lopez expressed her commitment to “not let the people suffer” instructing MGB director Leo Jasareno to act on these complaints against OGPI.

Jasareno told the group the MGB will write OGPI and ask the company to justify why their exploration permit for the expansion of their operations should not be withdrawn, given that social acceptability of the project is clearly being withdrawn by the local communities and the provincial government. “We also understand that this process might take several days to be completed, after which, the decision to cancel the permit or not will be issued.” 

The environmental group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) said “due process in the cancellation process for this mining permit is important, and we recognize the efforts of all parties to resolve the issue in the appropriate manner at the soonest possible time. We understand that Sec. Gina Lopez’s pledge to favorably act on the communities demand must undergo the proper procedure of review and due process, under existing guidelines of the DENR.

“The alliance fully supports the efforts of Gov. Padilla and his administration to protect the important watershed of Nueva Vizcaya threatened by the expansion of mining, as well as the effort to develop the eco-tourism and massive agriculture production in the province.

            We sincerely hope that Sec. Lopez will continue to stand strong on her convictions that we cannot develop an economy that is based on suffering, said Jaybee Garganera, ATM national coordinator