DENR closes 6 mining plants in Camarines Norte

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has ordered the shutdown of six mineral processing plants that had earlier been accused of polluting fishing grounds in Camarines Norte.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau has issued cease and desist orders on P&F Mineral Experts Corp., Green Gold, Triple A and Talla, all in Paracale town; and Escober and Romeo Diaz mineral processing plants, all in Jose Panganiban town, mainly for operating with expired permits.

These plants had been the subject of complaints from fisherfolk for polluting Paracale’s fishing grounds including the Malaguit and Bato-Balani rivers in Jose Panganiban.

A joint investigation by the MGB and the Environmental Management Bureau had found the mineral processing plants, except for Green Gold, to be operating even though their permits from the local mining regulatory board had expired. TJ Burgonio