Displaced 1,500 miners appeal to GMA

By George Trillo

DOÑA REMEDIOS TRINIDAD, Bulacan —Thousands of displaced mine workers in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan appealed to President Arroyo to intervene in the mining dispute in this town.

"Nananawagan po kami kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na huwag kaming pabayaang mawalan ng pinagkakakitaan dahil kapag nagpatuloy po ito ay tiyak na marami ang magugutom lalong-lalo na ang aming mga anak at mababahala ang mga pag-iisip kung papano kami kakain sa araw-araw (We are appealing to President Arroyo not to allow us to lose our source of income because if this happens, many people, particularly our children will go hungry)," a miner said.

DRT Mayor Evelyn Paulino told newsmen the situation has forced some 1,500 mine workers and members of their families to resort to charcoal making and firewood gathering, and this has taken a heavy toll on the Angat watershed.

It was gathered that because the mine workers lost their sources of livelihood, some women family members of the miners have resorted to prostitution to make both ends meet.

Cases of petty thievery are also rising, and what is worse is that the restive miners, who have lost their jobs, may join the underground movement.

The mining row in the town is directly affecting some 7,500 people dependent on iron-ore mining.

They were displaced following the issuance of a controversial order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The order suspended all mining operations in Barangay Camachin.

The miners reportedly earns each of from P350 to P500 a day for picking and hauling crushed boulders of iron ores mined at the mining areas in DRT.

Aside from the miners, the haulers and truckers have also been displaced, while the mining operators are losing millions of pesos due to the suspension of mining activities.

The DENR issued the suspension order when a squabble of the Soriano family over the control of the Oro Development Corp. (Odeco) reached boiling point. This allegedly forced the Soriano siblings to come out with two Odeco companies -- Odeco 1 and Odeco 2.

Last Saturday night April 12 , it was reported that heavily armed men led by a retired Army general stormed the compound of Odeco 1, and without any authority, disarmed the guards of the mining firm and installed a new set of security guards hired by Odeco 2.

Mayor Paulino hopes that DENR Secretary Lito Atienza immediately resolve with finality the controversy over Odeco so that the mine workers can go back to their work.