SC stops mining operations in Zambales

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Supreme Court on Tuesday stopped the mining operations in Zambales and ordered the Court of Appeals to act on the petition filed by residents of the Municipality of Masinloc.

Petitioners Roberto Escobar and several others questioned the mass issuance of 94 small scale mining permits by Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane by using as basis the long repealed Marcos-era law.

“The petitioners allege that under Republic Act No. 7076, small scale mining operations can only be made in areas declared as ‘Minahang Bayan,'” petitioners said.

They pointed out that after small scale mining permits are issued, the actual mining operations conducted in Zambales turn out to be large scale mining ventures with the use of heavy equipment like backhoe and dump trucks.

Petitioners added that the small scale mining grantees are merely using the more relaxed requirements for small scale mining firms in order to circumvent stricter requirements under the law, since government has suspended the issuance of large scale mining permits in the meantime as mining policies are being reviewed.

Respondents in the petition include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Province of Zambales, the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB), and Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane, among others.

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