Bishop pleads to Aquino: Stop Vizcaya mining

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Bishop Ramon Villena of the Catholic diocese here and in Quirino province on Wednesday asked President Aquino to revoke mining licenses granted to foreign companies in the province.

Villena called on the President to cancel the Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement which allowed Australian companies OceanaGold Philippines Inc. and FCF Minerals Inc. to conduct large-scale operations in the upland towns of Kasibu and Quezon.

“Listen to your people in Nueva Vizcaya as you have always mentioned (that) the people are your bosses,” he said in a statement.

Villena said his recent visit to the two mining projects strengthened his resolve to continue opposing all forms of mining activities.

“I saw with my own eyes the great devastation that the mining activities have done,” he said.

“There are no more trees. The mountains are being flattened,” said the bishop. Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon