Abra pushes campaign against quarrying

By Freddie Lazaro

BANGUED, Abra – Abra has stepped up its campaign against destructive mining.

Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos is working to closely regulate quarrying in the province by strictly environmental protection laws through the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB).

Of particular concern for Bernos are the sand and gravel operations in Peñarrubia, Tayum, Pidigan, La Paz, Lagangilang, Bangued, Manabo, Dolores, Bucay and San Juan.

Abra Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Officer Cris Albolote reminded the quarrying operators they need to secure permits from the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) and the governor.

Albolote said PMRB can only approve applications for quarrying of up to five hectares per town to protect the environment especially the Abra River.

The board is composed of the Mines and Geo-science Bureau regional director as chairman, the governor as co-chairman with representatives from the small-scale and large-scale miners and a representative from a non-government organization as members.

Monitoring will be done by the board’s technical working group, composed of the ENR, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and other government agencies like the Philippine National Police and the Army.

Penalties range from P2,000 to P5,000 and six months of imprisonment.

There are five quarry applications being processed in Bangued, Tayum, La Paz, Manabo, and Bucay.

Bernos had issued two executive order to stop illegal mining operations and to regulate small mining activities in the province.

Small-scale mining is rampant in Licuan-Baay (Capcapo and Patok), Lacub (Magtalalang), Malibcong (Kotop), and on the boundary of Manabo and Boliney (Ableg).

Because small-scale mining is not fully regulated in Abra, dynamites and toxic chemicals are reportedly being used to process gold extracted in Mt. Capcapo, Licuan-Baay.