MGB requires brgy resolution vs mineral processing plant

DUMAGUETE CITY — The Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR-Region 7 is asking for a barangay council resolution and possibly a signature campaign from residents of Tambacan in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental manifesting their opposition to a mineral processing plant erected in that coastal village.

Efren Rombawa, chief of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office II (CENRO II) in Negros Oriental, disclosed that these were the requirements needed before MGB-7 can issue an order for the dismantling of the mineral processing plant, in response to the request by Gov. Roel Degamo.

The mineral processing plant of the Sino-Italy Construction Philippines, Inc. was erected sometime in the 3rd quarter of 2013 after the Tanjay City government and this contractor signed a memorandum of agreement for a multi-million pesos dredging project of the Tanjay River.

That project has now become the bone of contention between the LGU and hundreds of Tanjay residents protesting what they believed was a black sand mining project “in the guise of dredging.”

In recent weeks, irate residents put up barricades on the road leading to the plant after they claimed that the contractor had defied the cease and desist order of the governor and allegedly operated the machinery.

Degamo had issued the cease and desist order against Sino-Italy saying the project was unlawful because it has no dredging permit from the provincial government.

Rombawa, meanwhile, explained that the MGB-7 had issued the Sino-Italy a permit to install the processing plant as well as a mineral processing permit.

He went on to say that the MGB-7, during a meeting with the governor and other stakeholders recently, had requested for a barangay resolution opposing both permits and if possible, a signature campaign, before they can act on Degamo’s request to take down the processing plant.

Rombawa however agreed that in the event that Sino-Italy will voluntarily dismantle the plant, the MGB-7’s action would become moot and academic.

Sino-Italy last week, through the Moya Law Office, wrote a letter to the Tanjay City LGU, headed by Mayor Lawrence Teves, saying that “due to external forces and pressure against the dredging project”, it will suspend its operations, cease its trial run and dismantle its machineries.

The letter, however, hinted of legal action against those who “unlawfully violated and/or disputed the memorandum of understanding dated May 31, 2013 as well as all persons responsible for causing delay and disturbance to the project.”

Furthermore, proper relief and remedies will be sought before the local court “for the settlement of its claims before referring the matter to international arbitration.”

The dismantling of the processing plant was initially scheduled Tuesday but hit a snag after the protesters refused to take down the barricades unless a written agreement was signed by parties involved, to protect them from possible accusations such as unlawfully destroying property belonging to the contractor.

As of press time, a status quo remains at the project site in Tambacan.