Compostela Valley province Gov. Tyron Uy on Thursday appealed to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to convene the National Task Force Diwalwal once and for all to pave the way for rehabilitation efforts and to come up with measures to prevent further pollution of the rivers.
“We should act fast now and let us not wait for the situation (to get out of hand),” Uy told the Hermes Club press forum at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City.
The task force was created by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004 purportedly to “harmonize” the government’s efforts in Diwalwal—to ensure that the environment is protected and to check the reported extortion activities by the rebel New People’s Army in the area.
But Governor Uy said it was never convened since then.
He said that in addition, a Diwalwal national reservation plan was crafted in 2012 but it has never been executed.
“So we are appealing anew to Secretary Cimatu to treat with urgency the matter of convening the task force and in revisiting the reservation plan,” he said.
Gov. Uy said that in fairness to the mining community of Diwalwal, majority are willing to be relocated to pave the way for rehabilitation.
He said part of the plan is to come up with a tailings pond or dam so that the processed wastes of the ball mills will not go direct to the rivers and streams.
“Hence, there is a pressing need to convene the task force so that we could evolve ways in addressing environmental concerns and in moving forward,” he said.
He said the miners in Diwalwal are more than willing to cooperate to ensure that measures are in place to stop the pollution of rivers.
“The Local government unit has the technical know-how but it is not enough and we need help from the DENR if we are to bring about meaning change,” he said.
Last week, Secretary Cimatu launched a national task force in Baguio City aimed at curbing illegal mining nationwide.
Cimatu explained that the creation of the task force is to address the proliferation of illegal small-scale mining operations, which are done by individuals, groups, or communities without securing regulation permit from the government.
Cimatu said his department would strictly implement the law, even if it hurts the people, as its mandate is to protect the environment.
National Mining Task Force head Rodolfo Garcia said most of the small-scale mines are illegal, and these unleash untreated water into the rivers, creeks, and other water systems, harming the environment and the communities. (JKL/with a PNA report)
