Cimatu made
the announcement during Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s Palace press
briefing at the provincial capitol here Monday morning after reporting that
many have already died in the landslides in Itogon while many were still
missing.
“In view of
this current situation in the Cordillera, to prevent further danger to the
lives of our small-scale miners, I officially order cease and desist of all
illegal small-scale mining operations in the whole of Cordillera Administrative
Region,” Cimatu said.
“At present,
there are existing applications for Minahang Bayan in some areas of the region.
While we await the approval and proclamation of these applications, we ask our
small-scale miners to cooperate and stop all small-scale mining activities
here,” he added.
According to
Cimatu, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be sending men
from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police
effect the stoppage of all mining activities in the region, especially in
Itogon.
When asked to
clarify if only illegal small-scale mining will be halted, Cimatu said there
are no legal mining operations in the region.
However, he
was corrected by Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Cordillera Director Fay Apil that
there are 10 associations who have temporary permits to hold mining activities
in the region.
“When E.O. 79
was issued, it said there that those who are in possession of small-scale
mining permits, will be given temporary small-scale mining contracts until
their areas are declared as Minahang Bayan,” she said.
Cimatu, in
turn, said he will be revoking the permits of the 10 associations also.
“OK, by
virtue of what happened, I am revoking those permits effective today,” he said.
However,
Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan appealed that there should first be a technical
conference before the DENR closes small-scale mining sites, saying there are
small-scale miners who are following the law but are unable to secure permits
because of provisions under the Small-Scale Mining Act.
“There are
small-scale miners that are following the laws, only the fact that they could
not get license or permit because of the provisions under our Small-Scale
Mining Act that you cannot apply for a permit if that big mining company will
not issue you a permit. That should be amended in Congress,” he said.
“We should
have first a technical conference to determine the areas that are dangerous and
should be stopped, and not to stop all the mining operation of small-scale.
Because if you will visit the area, talagang meron pong pwede na pagtatrabahuan
ng mga tao na hindi po delikado sa area (there really areas which are not
dangerous for our miners),” he added.
Cimatu said
he will consider the mayor’s proposal. However, he said he will still order the
closure of all small-scale mining sites for now.
“We are
closing all small-scale now. Then of course, I will respect your request na mag
technical conference muna tayo (to first hold a technical conference), we’ll do
that later. ‘Pag usapan na natin kung nandiyan sila (Let’s talk about that with
the stakeholders),” he said.
“But ito na,
may nangyari na, hindi naman natin pwede i-ignore ito dahil marami ring buhay
ito na namatay (But this already happened and we can’t ignore it because a lot
died already),” he added.
Meanwhile,
Cimatu said he will be more strict with the establishment of Minahang Bayans in
the region, noting that miners would have to comply with the laws.
“This time, I
will be more strict in the location of the Minahang Bayan because dapat naman
kasama diyan sa mga conditions diyan ay ang mga titirhan dapat ng mga minero ay
hindi dapat sila prone ng mga ganito mangyari. Wake up call dito eh, ‘yung
nangyari diyan (there should be a safe place for miners to live in),” he said.
“They will be
required to pay the taxes, they will be required to observe the regulation in
mining, sanitation… So these are the conditions na no way ka talagang magmina
kung hindi mo macomply ito (which you have to comply with or else you cannot
mine),” he added.
Roque,
meanwhile, listed down how the government can help those who will be affected
by Cimatu’s order on small-scale mining in the CAR.
“Meron tayong
cash for work galing sa DOLE, galing sa DSWD. Pagkatapos po diyan i-activate
ang TESDA for alternative livelihood (We have cash for work from the Department
of Labor and Employment and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
After that, we will activate the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority for alternative livelihood),” he said.
“Meron din
tayong mga field offices ng DA (We also have Department of Agriculture field
offices) and I’m sure later on you might hear it from the President himself
that he is tasking them to assist these individuals in pursuing alternative
livelihood,” he added.
Roque said he
will also tap the Bases Conversion and Development Authority to hold the “Jobs,
Jobs, Jobs” job fair in the CAR as more manpower is needed for the government’s
“Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.
Social
Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo, meanwhile, said they are looking to boost the
region’s weaving industry to help those affected by Cimatu’s order and by the
typhoon.
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