NPAs tagged obstacle to full growth of mining

DAVAO CITY—Threats by communist rebels and other armed groups are preventing mining companies from going full blast in their operations in mine-rich villages in Southern Mindanao, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

“It’s easier when they are still doing paper work for their application but when they start going to the area to start mining activities, they are hampered by threats,” said Edilberto Areza, regional director of the MGB.

Areza cited the case of Bunawan Mining Corp. (BMC), which was supposed to start operating four years ago in its 2,500-hectare claim in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental, but slowed down when its geologist was abducted by armed groups.

BMC had petitioned the MGB to waive the requirement for a company to spend P150 per hectare on its approved mining claim in the first two years of operation under the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Areza said the company cited “force majeure,” referring to the abduction of its geologist, in its petition seeking exemption from the IRR. Geologists getting abducted in mine-rich areas where armed groups are active is fast “becoming a trend,” he said.

On May 12, one person was killed when New People’s Army (NPA) rebels attacked security personnel escorting the geologist of St. Augustine Gold and Copper Mining in Pantukan, Compostela Valley.