Oro dad opposes mining exploration in hinterlands

“Isip usa ka residente ug miyembro sa Sangguniang Panlungsod sa dakbayan, akong dakong pagsupak niining pagmina kay kini makahatag og dakong epekto sa atong [kinaiyahan].”

This was stressed by Councilor Enrico Salcedo in his special report during the regular session Monday as he expressed his vehement opposition to the renewal of the exploration permits of three mining companies under the Evergrow Mining and Development Corporation.

According to Salcedo, the three companies namely, Cypress, Eagle Crest and Glendale are doing exploration of metallic minerals such as iron, copper and gold in barangays Dansolihon, Tagpangi, Pigsag-an, Tignapoloan, and Tumpagon.

Pursuant to the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the Local Government Code, any and all exploration of metallic mineral resources within the geographical land of the city must be coordinated with its local government, but this was overlooked by the said companies, Salcedo said.

“Ang ilang konsultasyon naa lamang sa barangay level taman, kini dapat unta moagi usab sa atong tunghaan para ato mabusisi,” he added.

As the chair of the City Council committee on environment, the councilor pointed out that based on published studies the process of extracting these metallic minerals can cause harm to the environment and to human health for it can pollute the air, land and the water with trace elements like Mercury, Lead, Chromium, Arsenic, among others.

Exposure or consumption of the said elements may cause several diseases and even death especially to nearby residents. It may even loose the environment’s biodiversity which contributes to the continuous climate change, the councilor explained.

The matter has been submitted to the committee on environment for further investigation and verification. (sp)