Davao Oriental gov’t vows to block mining in wildlife sanctuary

Mt. Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental is a major habitat for the Philippine Eagle. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

DAVAO CITY — The provincial government of Davao Oriental will block any moves by mining companies to encroach into the Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary, a known home of the Philippine eagle and centuries-old bonsai garden.

Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon warned companies to stop their attempts to include the mountain range, which the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) included as a World Heritage Site in 2014.

“This early, they [mining operators] should be warned that there should be no encroachment in the protected areas of Mount Hamiguitan,” Malanyaon declared.

In a recent meeting with officials of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Regional Director Jasper Lascano assured the governor that there had been no mining activities in the 26,652-hectare protected area.

Lascano assured Malanyaon that his office will support the governor in ensuring that no mining activities are undertaken in the area as the only mining area allowed is in the boundary of Banaybanay, Davao Oriental and Pantukan, Davao de Oro.

There were previous reports that some companies were trying to include the mountain range in their mineral production sharing agreements, but the provincial government has blocked these attempts.

In the meeting, Malanyaon said: “Davao Oriental has never made mining a priority,” but that since sustainable mining is a national policy, her administration will assert its right to collect taxes from mining companies as some of them have failed to pay their dues.

“If there are no taxes and our province is being exploited, what are the benefits to our people? I am just here to protect the interest of my people and my province,” said Malanyaon.

To ensure that her policy for environmental protection is strictly implemented, Malanyaon appointed retired military general Leopoldo Imbang Jr. to head an office mandated with environmental law enforcement. Imbang served as deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command.

/MUF