Canadian mining firm told to stop road construction

PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines – Citing the need to protect the environment, a regional trial court here on Friday ordered the Canadian mining company TVI Resources to halt its road construction project and similar activities in Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur.

Records of the case show that local residents had accused TVI of destroying naturally grown trees and rubber trees in the construction of a road that would connect the villages of Dipili, Pulang Bato and Depore.

TVI had obtained permission from the Bayog town council for the project but residents filed a civil suit against the mining company, accusing it of destruction of the environment and damaging their livelihood.

They said TVI lacked the necessary permit to construct the road and did not even consult them, especially the affected land owners.

Company representatives admitted that they did not have an Environmental Compliance Certificate.

The residents asked Acting Executive Judge Romeo Descallar to issue a temporary restraining order against TVI’s road building and other activities in the affected villages.

On Friday, Descallar said that based on the results of the hearings conducted, “the court finds that there is an extreme urgency for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order.”

He saidthat “TVI has continuously cleared and bulldozed the lands in the area, thus causing irreparable damage to the environment, including the rubber trees and natural grown trees thereon.”

Descallar said the TRO was intended “to prevent grave injustice and irreparable injury against the interest of the herein plaintiffs.”

“The court hereby issues a restraining order against respondents Toronto Ventures Inc. and its officers and privies from further constructing or bulldozing a road in Barangay Dipili and Pulang Bato going to Sitio (sub-village) Balabag, Depore, Bayog Zamboanga del Norte,” the order said.

Meanwhile, the Zamboanga del Sur prosecutor’s office started initiated proceedings against TVI for the illegal cutting of trees in Bayog in connection with the road-building project.

Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Lucio O. Tan Jr. said they “found probable cause to conduct a preliminary investigation” against TVI for violation of forestry laws.

TVI was asked to answer the charges “within 10 days from receipt” of the summons sent out Friday.

TVI is one of about a dozen mining companies operating in Bayog, a mineral-rich town of Zamboanga del Sur.