MGB urged to stop Zambo illegal mining

The provincial board of Zamboanga del Sur is calling on the regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to stop all illegal mining operations in the province.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Sur has passed a resolution requesting the MGB regional office to stop all illegal mining operations in the province.

Resolution No. 2K12- 646 urged the MGB regional office to put a stop to illegal mining operations in the province citing the complaint filed by several baranggay officials of Bayog which alleged that some elected officials of the town are involved in illegal small-scale mining operations.

“This body has in fact received reports and complaints from the four barangays in Bayog, namely: Depore, Dipili, Dimalinao, Pulangbato against some elective municipal officials who are allegedly involved in illegal mining activity which needs investigations by the Office of the Honorable Governor and the Secretary of Department of the Interior and Local Government,” the resolution read.

The resolution also stated that conflicts among residents, local officials, large-scale and small-scale miners in the municipality of Bayog have escalated due to the alleged illegal mining operations.

A separate two-page resolution of the Inter-agency Task Group on Mining, Environment and Public Order and Safety (IATGMEPOS) meanwhile, stated that if illegal mining operations in Zamboanga del Sur would not be stopped, both the lives of residents as well as the environment would be put at risk.

The group likewise, urged the regional director of the MGB, who is also the chair of the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) of Zamboanga del Sur, to issue a stoppage order to all persons who are involved in illegal mining within the province’s jurisdiction.

The group said in its resolution that inspections and verifications it conducted showed several mining operations which lack permits and contracts with the government.

“There is an urgent need to stop all these illegal mining operations, regulate the legitimate ones and strengthen the enforcement of environmental laws,” the resolution said.