‘Illegal gold mining’ activities in Leyte, Samar probed

TACLOBAN CITY — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Eastern Visayas is investigating the reported illegal gold mining activities in Southern Leyte and in Eastern Samar.

MGB Regional Director Roger De Dios said they have to look into these illegal mining activities as these could trigger landslides just like what happened in Compostela Valley province.

De Dios said a report received by his office showed there were illegal gold mining activities in San Ricardo and Saint Bernard, both in Southern Leyte, and in Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

Balangiga Mayor Viscuso De Lira said he had informed the MGB office about gold extraction in his town.

De Lira, in a phone interview, said gold panning in his town were located in barangays Cag-olango and Guinmaayohan, both upstream villages.

Cag-olango is about 9 km away from the town center with more than 600 residents while Guinmaayohan has over 1,500 residents and is 12 km from the town proper.

“I sought assistance from the MGB as to the best way to address this concern. I have yet to make a move like for a possible relocation of the people in these areas,” De Lira said.

He said he could not just order the people there to relocate as it would also mean economic dislocation for them.

Residents in these barangays rely on farming as their main livelihood source.  /INQUIRER