Mining ban on Mindoro island sought
Three former and two current representatives from the three congressional districts of the island of Mindoro want mining activities on the island banned to protect it from frequent flooding and destruction of agricultural lands, communities and infrastructure.
In two separate House Bills, Oriental Mindoro First District Rep. Arnan Panaligan filed HB 3891 and Second District Rep. Alfonso Umali Jr. filed HB 6219 before the House of Representatives both entitled “An Act Declaring the Island of Mindoro as a Mining-Free Zone and Providing Penalties Thereof,” with Panaligan’s version reiterating the prohibition of all forms of mining operations and activities.
The chief of staff of Occidental Mindoro Lone District Rep. Leody Tarriela on Wednesday said in a telephone interview that the lawmaker will be supporting all measures that would ban mining in Mindoro and protect the environment.
Former congressman Paulino Salvador Leachon, in a public post on his social media page, said his political party Mindoro Bago Sarili, whose members were part of the previous Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP or Provincial Board) that passed and extended the 25-year mining moratorium in Oriental Mindoro, is steadfast in its anti-mining stand.
Both provinces had passed a mining moratorium after an application of the Mindoro Nickel Project to mine a mountainous area in the central part of the island was approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources during the term of now Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as President.
Also, former congressman and former governor Rodolfo Valencia, in a previous interview, said ever since he became a public official in the province, he had been at the forefront of anti-mining and pro-environment endeavors.
Former Occidental Mindoro congressman Josephine Ramirez-Sato had filed the same HB during the 18th Congress.
The anti-mining sentiments in the island were stirred after the passage of a provincial ordinance by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Oriental Mindoro allowing and regulating the extraction of volcanic rock float deposits or armor rocks in the province.
On the eve of the celebration of the founding anniversary of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro on November 15, the 10th SP passed with a vote of 9-5 the ordinance entitled “Ordinance Regulating the Extraction, Removal and Disposition of Boulder-Sized Volcanic Rock Float Deposits (Armor Rocks) Within the Territorial Jurisdiction of the Province of Oriental Mindoro, and for Other Purposes.”
Environmentalists are planning an indignation rally next week in front of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan building in this city to condemn the passage of Provincial Ordinance 145-2022 that they claimed was railroaded by the legislative body.
Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) also passed a resolution declaring support to the Panaligan bill.
SP ex-officio member Councilor Ronalee Leachon said they had passed the resolution to make it clear that the city is against all forms of mining that threaten the safety of city dwellers.
Panaligan urged all provincial, municipal and city councils to pass their respective resolutions in support of his bill.
“Batid natin na mabigat ang laban na ito sapagkat malakas at makapangyarihan ang pro-mining lobby lalo na nasa itaas. Tiyak na dadaan sa butas ng karayom ang HB 3891, subalit tayo ay naninindigan sa tama at iyon ay ang pagtatanggol at pangangalaga sa kalikasan ng Isla ng Mindoro (We know that this would be a hard fight because of the powerful pro-mining lobby out there. Surely, HB 3891 wouls pass through the eye of a needle, but we stand for what is right and that is to defend and protect the environment of Mindoro Island),” he said.