CONCERNED residents of Banaybanay, a progressive town in Davao Oriental, who are opposed to illegal mining are planning to stage a demonstration during this week’s scheduled visit of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to press for stoppage of what they term as “unmitigated and unregulated mining activities” in their municipality.
Banaybanay Councilor Roger Tambuang earlier confirmed illegal mining activities in the locality, saying he himself wants the attention of the newly-confirmed secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on this lingering problem.
“There is illegal mining in Banaybanay,” said Councilor Tambuang in an interview with GMA Super Radyo during the weekend. “We are appealing to Secretary Cimatu to stop this.”
The second-term councilor said he and most residents of Banaybanay are not against mining when it is legally done. “What we are fighting is illegal mining because it is unregulated and no one is held responsible and no one is made to account.”
Tambuang said he prefers a “peaceful and orderly dialogue” with Secretary Cimatu to eliminate any serious threat to the environment.
Cimatu is expected to arrive in Davao City before the end of the week to grace an environment convention at a local hotel.
Councilor Tambuang said there is already a petition forwarded to the office of the DENR secretary asking for the cease-and-desist order against illegal mining activities in Banaybanay.
According to the councilor, unscrupulous parties made it appear that there is a “stockpile” of nickel laterite ores in Banaybanay and this “stockpile” is now being hauled in a clear act of illegal mining.”
Councilot Tambuang said no stockpile existed.
“They claim that alleged stockpile amounted 300,000 metric tons which is like a hill and would need about 6 huge shipping vessel to haul,” Tambuang said over GMA Super Radyo.
“Visit us in Banaybanay and you will not see any stockpile there,” he stressed. What you will see there today are mining and digging with plenty of armed men around.”
The councilor said he has sought the help of higher police authorities to check on the presence of armed men in the area.
In an affidavit attached to the letter –complaint brought to Cimatu’s office, geologist Franco Jimenez Jr. said an ocular inspection last September 5 showed actual mining activities in the area.
“While traversing the road going to the subject area we saw heavy equipment doing sporadic road works and several dump trucks loaded with reddish soil heading to the national highway,” the geologist said in his two-page affidavit.
“We clearly saw heavy equipment doing fresh soil extraction, cutting open mountain and stockpiles of fresh reddish soil,” the geologist also wrote.
Councilor Tambuang said the people in Banaybanay are counting on Secretary Cimatu’s help “ before things could get out of control in our place.”
