Miners fight in Zambales

ZAMBALES—Small-scale miners have torn down a barricade set up allegedly by a nickel exploration company on a public road leading to their mining areas.

Recto Ebuen, leader of 40 pocket miners who reside in Barangay South Tubo-Tubo here, said government had already directed Shangfil Mining and Trading Corp. to reopen the road.

“God and the people know that we make our living via pocket mining but we are being forced by this mining firm to go hungry and we are being denied the chance to live honorably,” Ebuen said.

He claimed that security guards hired by Shangfil had barred pocket miners from using the road.

Shangfil could not be reached for comment. Its office is located in Quezon City.

The company is exploring over 1,660 hectares of nickel and chromite lands by virtue of an exploration permit issued in May 2010, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

The access road was barricaded in November last year, but the MGB intervened because of a complaint raised by another mining firm, which has asserted its own right-of-way over the same road, according to the MGB.

Mayor Luisito Marty said the local government had not yet addressed the dispute because mining operators there have not coordinated with the municipal government. Cesar Villa, Inquirer Central Luzon