Bill declaring Vizcaya mine-free gets House OK

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The House of Representatives on Feb. 28 approved a bill declaring Nueva Vizcaya province a mining-free zone.

Rep. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma said lawmakers presented no objection when the bill prohibiting all forms of mining activity in the province was approved on third reading.

The province hosts two large-scale mining projects, the Didipio gold-copper project in Kasibu town and the Runruno gold-molybdenum project in Quezon town, which are covered by financial technical assistance agreements.

The proposed measure, which will be transmitted to the Senate, does not say how to treat existing contracts. It bans all forms of mining, whether large or small-scale. —Melvin Gascon