Romblon gets backing on mining ban

Local officials in Romblon welcomed the support of two Cabinet members in enforcing a total ban on all forms of mining on the island-province.

This was after the local officials sought an audience with Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje to present the long list of resolutions and ordinances by the local governments of Romblon to oppose small- and large-scale mining on the island.

Provincial information officer Wilson Fortaleza on Friday said Robredo, in a meeting with Romblon Vice Gov. Manuel Madrid and the town mayors of San Fernando, Magdiwang and Cajidiocan on Sibuyan Island, gave the assurance that he would “enforce the mining ban.”

San Fernando Mayor Dindo Rios by phone on Friday also said that based on their meeting on June 15 at the VIP lounge of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport III, Robredo particularly cited the ban on small-scale mining operations in Magdiwang town.

“He said he was bringing in police forces to help enforce the mining ban,” Rios quoted Robredo as saying.

Robredo, however, wanted a careful planning of alternative livelihood for the 500 families dependent on small-scale mining.

“He is tapping other government agencies (for instance the Department of Agriculture) to help people find other sources of livelihood and asked the local government units to improve their ecotourism projects,” Rios said in the phone interview.

Small-scale mining thrives on Sibuyan Island, specifically in the village of Dulangan in Magdiwang town.

The village came to be known as such because of the practice of using the dulang, a device for manual recovery of gold. Use of mercury to pan the gold from the ore also remains rampant based on earlier tests showing a high concentration of the toxic chemical.

As an alternative to gold mining, Rios said they wanted to develop ecotourism in Romblon, banking on the natural parks, night bird-watching activities, and the rich marine culture of Sibuyan Island.

The island is home to Mt. Guiting-guiting, a popular trekking site.

In a separate meeting with Paje, Romblon officials were reportedly assured by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary that he would stop issuing permits for large-scale mining operations in the entire province.

“He (Paje) made the commitment that he would not sign mining permits in Romblon but he called on the municipal mayors to also make a commitment to stop mining in their areas,” said provincial board member Felix Ylagan.

Ylagan said he was present at the dialogue with Paje together with Romblon Gov. Eduardo Firmalo, environment advocate Gina Lopez, and other local officials and environmental groups at the DENR office in Quezon City on June 10.

Paje was also looking into bringing in a composite team from the Armed Forces and the Philippine Navy to enforce the mining ban, particularly on Sibuyan Island, said Ylagan.