Mining firm suspends exploration in Masbate

A mining firm has suspended for 30 days its exploration activities atop Mount Pajo in Aroroy town in Masbate amid fears of villagers that it could pollute their source of drinking water.

Filminera Resources Corp. (FRC) made its decision in deference to the complaint of the residents and to allow water testing, Igmedio Emilio Camposano, head of the Gawad Kalinga (GK) in Masbate, said on Monday.

FRC operates the Masbate Gold Project in consortium with Philippine Gold Processing and Refining Corp.

Members of the GK community in Barangay (village) Ambulong at the foot of Pajo have expressed fear that FRC’s operations would destroy their source of potable water from the mountain.

FRC suspended its exploration after a dialogue on September 22, which was attended by GK representatives, provincial board members and Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Camposano said.

Sixty-one families or around 400 persons, all beneficiaries of a GK housing project in the village, earlier appealed to the municipal government and the mining firm to stop its work.

They also sent a letter dated September 20 to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje asking him to intervene.

In a statement on October 8, FRC expressed willingness to hold talks with the residents so it could fully explain the implications of its exploration.

The exploration area is adjacent to the existing mine site in Aroroy being operated by FMC, the biggest mining firm operating in Bicol.