Capiz board upholds ordinance lifting 50-year ban on mineral extraction

ILOILO CITY—The Capiz provincial board upheld a decision it made earlier to lift a 50-year ban on mining in the province.

Voting 8-3 during its session last week, the board rejected a proposed ordinance that would keep the ban in force.

Those who voted against keeping the ban on large scale mine exploration and extraction are board members Eleuper Martinez, Blesilda Almalbis,  Eduardo Magallanes, Roberto Ignacio, Jeffrey Layo, Karen Palomora, Camilo Robles and Lilia Demalata.

Those who voted to keep the ban are board members Jonathan Besa, who authored the proposal to keep it, Victor Tanco and Elmer Arevalo.

Separate resolutions

Twelve of 17 local government units in Capiz, including Roxas City, the capital, had passed separate resolutions calling on the board to keep the ban.

Capiz Gov. Antonio del Rosario had declared that he would not enforce the lifting of the ban, mandated by Provincial Ordinance No. 9 passed by the board on May 11, two days after the elections.

The ordinance repealed two local laws enacted in 1999 and 2002. Groups of councilors, lawyers and environmental activists are opposing the board decision.

The board passed Ordinance No. 9 following a request by the council of Maayon town on behalf of Australian mine firm Teresa Marble Corp.

TIMELINE

Aug. 27, 1999-Provincial board passes ordinance declaring a 15-year moratorium on large-scale mining.

Feb. 15, 2002-The moratorium is extended to 50 years or until 2049.

May 11, 2016-Provincial Ordinance No. 9 lifting the moratorium is passed.

Oct. 6, 2016-Board votes to uphold lifting of moratorium.