Support assured for Cordillera

IF PRESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte had to do his thing, he would close all mining in the country after the landslide in Ucab, Itogon brought about by Typhoon Ompong leaving more than 50 dead in the Cordillera Administration Region.

“If I would try to do my thing I will close all mining in the Philippines, never mind the P70 billion [earning a year],” Duterte said in a situation briefing in La Trinidad, Benguet on Monday evening.

The President added he will just confront the Congress where they have to close the mining industry or better still, plan a period then give a mother earth rest from the continued endless digging.

“That mining thing has really contributed heartaches to the Filipino people. It is time for us particularly the DENR to take second look seriously regarding thedangers of open pit mining,” he added.

“If there is a mining area, we do not allow habitation, DENR can establish a parameter five meters away. Kung mag kutkot lang sila malapit sa bahay nila, patay,” said Duterte.

In lieu of what happen in Itogon, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu reiterated his order to cease and desist all ille

gal small-scale mining (SSM) operation in the whole Cordillera region.

Even with the existing application for minahang bayan, Cimatu ordered to stop all small scale mining activities and has asked the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police implement the closure.

During the briefing, he Office of the Civil Defense-Cordillera reported 9,198 families affected in the Cordillera region.

Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan meanwhile said they will not stop until all bodies are recovered. He also feared the missing persons in the area are 99 percent already dead.

Fay Apil, regional director of Mines Geosciences Bureau Cordillera said the area where small scale mining activities are done is considered a land slide prone area.