Offshore Mining Imminent

TACLOBAN CITY – Here’s bad news for environmentalists in the province. According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s Regional Director Roger De Dios there are now almost 200 pending applications for mining exploration permits for various provinces in Eastern Visayas including three Pacific Towns of Southern Leyte.

He said the Bridgestone Mining Company has applied for offshore mining exploration permits covering the minicipalities of Silago, Hinundayan and Hinunangan for magnetite sand, gold and other minerals. These and the other applications he said were still being processed and awaiting the approval of the environment secretary.

De Dios admitted that the government had shifted its stand on mining from “tolerance to active promotion” after the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported that the mining and quarrying sector showed the biggest growth sector in 2002.

He complained however that they could not move on because of the protests against mining in the country. These complaints he said included the “ghost town” syndrome and environmental degradation. SLT called Director De Dios’s office for an update on the bureau’s environment impact study on the illegal gold mining operations in Pinutan, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte but was informed he was out of town.

The Southern Leyte Times had learned about the study from Pedro Sorio Jr. who is the Chief of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO). (By MARK RIMAS)

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