Prov’l govt. must have authority to regulate, police mining operations – Gov. Ebdane
IBA, Zambales — Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on Friday called for long-term solutions to problems besieging mining operations in Sta. Cruz town, which were largely blamed for the muddy floodwaters that devastated several villages at the height of Typhoon Lando last month.
Speaking during a public hearing jointly conducted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s Committee on Environment and Committee on Legal Matters last Friday (Nov. 6), Ebdane said he believes it would be best to temporarily stop all mining activities in Santa Cruz and ask all stakeholders to go back to the drawing board to formulate a program that would ensure better-regulated operations.
“There are plans that should be in place first before we would allow them to operate again, if the provincial government will be granted the authority to regulate and police the mining operations,” Ebdane asserted.
He then recommended to the body that a technical working committee be formed to look into mining operations, investigate the issues, as well as recommend resolutions, both short- and long-term, that would address all the concerns of residents, along with those of the municipal and provincial governments.
“The study would ideally come up with a collective conclusion and determine the liabilities and responsibilities of all the stakeholders — not only of the mining companies, but also of the local government units and the national government agencies like the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources,” Ebdane added.
During the hearing, geologists and experts from the University of the Philippines–National Institute of Geological Sciences shared the results of investigations conducted after the floods, pointing out that based on actual data gathered, the heavy rainfall brought by Lando also brought the huge volume of water that flowed out into the nine barangays.
On the other hand, Board member Renato H. Collado, chairman of the Committee on Legal Matters, said the public hearing had conclusively revealed that mining operations in Sta. Cruz had aggravated the effects of Typhoon Lando.
He said that as a result, the provincial board will be passing a resolution recommending an immediate action plan to address the damages caused by mining operations.
Collado added that the board would also urge concerned authorities to grant the provincial government authority over the regulation of mining operations here.
“We’re sorry if you would not like the resolutions we’re going to pass,” Collado warned representatives of the three mining companies present during the hearing.
Board member Samuel Ablola, who chairs the Committee on Environment, said they called for the public hearing not only to listen to the grievances of residents, but also to find short-term and long-term solutions to the issue at hand.
The hearing was attended by barangay officials of Sta. Cruz; representatives the Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz (CCOS), an NGO which is opposing mining operations in the town; as well as those from agencies like the MGB, Environmental Management Bureau, PAGASA, Dept. of Public Works and Highways, Dept. of Interior and Local Government, National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and Philippine National Police.
In the same forum, MGB Regional Director Lope Cariño said the hearing was successful as it helped identify the real cause of the siltation, which caused mud to flow into the farm lots and residential areas in Sta. Cruz.
He also opined that Gov. Ebdane would be well-qualified for the sought-after regulatory and monitoring authority over mining operations since he has served as DPWH secretary and would be knowledgeable on engineering interventions needed to mitigate, or prevent, mining-related disasters.
