Sagada small scale miners nix stop operations order

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province – Some 90% households of northern Sagada are bound to be affected with issuance of a stoppage order for small scale miners here in six barangays of the northern zone to stop small scale mining operations.

A stoppage order issued by the Provincial  Mining and Regulatory Board  (PMRB)  addressed to Osenio  Lay-os president of Northern Sagada Barangays Small Scale Miners Association to stop illegal small scale mining activities led small scale miners  of northern barangays  ask Gov. Leonard Mayaen  to intervene  and ask the PMRB  to defer  implementation of the order.

They said they wanted continuance of mining operations while securing requirements to avail of Minahang Bayan giving them legitimacy to mine. 

For SMM operations, the government requires a registered contract or permit before such operations are allowed as provided in the Small Scale Mining Act of 1991.

Said order dated Sept. 3 was issued by PMRB chairman Fay Apil, regional director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and PMRB vice chairperson Provincial governor Leonard Mayaen.

The PMRB is composed   of five members namely the MGB regional director as the chairperson, the provincial governor as the vice chairperson, one representative each from large scale mining and small scale mining and non-government organization.

The PMRB is tasked to formulate and implement rules and regulations related to small scale mining.

Also, a   stoppage order July this year was issued by the PMRB to Mainit, Bontoc small scale miners “to immediately stop small scale mining operations and processing activities”.

This, aside from  a complaint  filed at the  Regional Trial Court charging Mainit small scale miners  Christopher Culallad, Donald Sagudang, Herman Fawayan  and Manuel Mandiit  for violating provisions of  Republic Act 7076 or small scale mining law and the Forestry Code  or Presidential Decree 705  from a complaint filed by heirs of  Elizabeth Okoren.

The complaint filed July 18 this year, wanted respondents to stop operating mine tunnels, cease and desist from hauling and transporting mineral ore out of mining sites, and from cutting trees.

Bontoc native Edward Okoren representing heirs of Elizabeth Okoren in said complaint said he came to know that tunnels were excavated underneath their riceland located at SitioAvo-os with vertical mine shafts serving as entry points to the mine tunnels.  

Also named in the charges were PENRO Manuel Pogeyed,   Apil, ENRO Cornelio Diego, Mayaen, Bontoc   chief of police Benjamin Challoy, and regional police director Chief Supt Benjamin Magalong.