Town council recalls support for economic zone in Mt. Diwalwal

DAVAO CITY – The municipal government of Monkayo, where the storied Diwalwal mountain of gold is situated, has recalled its support for the proposed mineral processing economic zone being proposed by the Philippine Mining Development Council (PMDC) in the rich mining conclave, Mayor Ramil L. Gentugaya said.

Gentugaya made the disclosure after the municipal council passed a resolution last May 29, which recalled its support for the PMDC proposal, alleging that the agency ceased to coordinate with the local government after it received its initial endorsement of the project last January.

Gentugaya said the municipal officials will revisit the PMDC’s proposal for the establishment of the Diwalwal Mineral Processing Economic Zone at the Diwalwal Mineral Reservation Area (DMRA) located in the Barangay Upper Ulip, Monkayo in Compostela Province.

He said the municipal government has also issued a manifesto on June 8, signed by 10 councilors and 21 village chiefs, opposing the entry of large-scale mining companies.

The mayor said the withdrawal of support on the proposed economic processing zone came after the PMDC ceased coordinating with the local government after the municipal council issued Resolution No. 21 on January 22, which endorsed the establishment of the proposed project.

Gentugaya alleged the PMDC has already been negotiating with mining investors without coordinating with the local government.

“We are opposing the entry of largescale mining and PMDC should respect the stand of the LGU,” he added.

The mayor called PMDC’s plan to cleanup Naboc River “sincere,” but added the agency seemed to have other “hidden agenda” for enforcing its July 2017 Cease and Desist Order (CDO).

“What is really their interest? Do they want to relocate the small-scale miners to pave the way for the entry of large-scale mining,” Gentugaya said.

A portion of the May 29 resolution read: “After the needed endorsement was granted by the august body, PMDC has stopped coordinating with the LGU, and it is felt that for the LGU to answer queries from various interested investors, PMDC should provide the necessary information and to update the local government with its activities.”