NUEVA VIZCAYA OFFICIALS CROSS PARTY LINES TO FIGHT ILLEGAL SMALL SCALE MINING

In Photo: Documented by the Nueva Vizcaya State University investigative team, an old-fashioned mining ball mill used to extract gold operates without permit in the upland village of Didipio in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya.

Nueva Vizcaya officials cross party lines to fight illegal mining

BUSINESS MIRROR
Thursday, 19 November 2009 20:28

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The escalating number of casualties in the illegal small-scale mining operations in the province has prompted provincial officials to cross party lines.

Nueva Vizcaya provincial board member Patricio Dumlao Jr. criticized the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and local officials in mineral-rich municipalities where illegal small-scale mining activities run rampant, for their failure to curb what he described as destructive mining ventures.

“If local officials in those areas are not illegal miners themselves or if they are not in cahoots with the operators, then it would be easy for them to hunt and stop all mining operations in their respective jurisdictions. Administrative charges can be filed against these officials for dereliction of duty,” said Dumlao.

For his part, Nueva Vizcaya Vice Gov. Jose Gambito Jr., who used to chair the provincial small-scale mining board, confirmed that no permits were issued to small-scale miners operating in a mining area already under financial technical assistance agreement (FTAA).

Gambito was referring to the Dinkidi Hill area in the upland town of Kasibu, where OceanaGold Philippines Inc. was granted the rights by the national government to operate the Didipio gold-copper project under an FTAA.

The MGB said the FTAA may be entered into between a contractor and the national government for the large-scale exploration, development and utilization of gold, copper, nickel, chromite, lead and zinc. The approval of its applications is subject to qualifications and requirements set by the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and other existing mineral policies of the Philippines.

Dumlao expressed fears that undocumented small-scale mining operations wherever in the province may not only endanger the miners’ lives, but also the entire community where they operate unregulated.

“Because they don’t have permits to operate, therefore they are illegal and have no records for the government to monitor their activities while technically evading tax obligations. How can we entice foreign investments into the country if we cannot protect legal mining projects that pay substantial tax revenues to the government?” asked Dumlao.

Dumlao, who belongs to Nueva Vizcaya’s north district, said the dreadful way of using the toxic mercury in extracting gold, which remains in practice, endangers not only the lives of people living in the area, but the natural ecology as well.

He also mentioned the indiscriminate use of dynamite in mine-tunnel excavation as fatal to the miners based on reported blasting-related deaths recently.

During a recent provincial peace- and-order council meeting, Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Luisa Lloren Curesma ordered the local authorities to stop all illegal mining anywhere in the province.

“These must be stopped. We can’t just sit here waiting for another death or tragedy to happen. Besides, most of these people are not Novo Vizcayanos, and yet they exploit and ruin our natural resources,” said Cuaresma, who heads the provincial small-scale mining regulatory board.

An investigative team from the Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) that conducted water testing from tributaries of the Didipio river network declared the presence of mercury in the upland river system.

The NVSU report was further confirmed by the National Science Research Institute at the University of the Philippines. The water samples at one liter each from the Camgat and Didipio rivers positively yielded mercury at an average concentration of 0.0002 milligram per liter, above the tolerable 0.0001 milligram per liter.

“As a result, the water from the Camgat and Didipio rivers is not safe for human consumption. The color of the water is murky brown probably due to suspended materials. Dissolved oxygen is too low which prevents plankton and algae [which serve as fishes’ food] from reproducing,” explained NVSU vice president for administration Elmer Castañeto, head of the research team.

“Inland fishing used to be an easy source of income, but today, there are no more clean waters to fish from. Mercury is highly toxic even in small amount,” he said.

Blood samples taken from Didipio residents examined at St. Luke’s Medical Center were proven to be mercury positive.

“With the result of our survey positively yielding the dreadful mercury, this is scary enough for everybody to be aware about the dangers it may impose to one’s life,” warned NVSU president Dr. Marilou Gilo Abon.

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Disaster seen from unregulated small-scale mining in Quirino

IN PHOTO -- Armed with a mechanical backhoe digger, an illegal small-scale miner attacks the slopes of the Dinkidi Hill in Didipio indiscriminately hitting portions of a tree plantation developed by OceanaGold Philippines as part of its advance rehabilitation program.

Disaster seen from unregulated small-scale mining in Quirino


Monday, 02 November 2009 19:01

MADDELA, Quirino—A former governor of this province has called for the complete stop of all small-scale mining activities in this province, calling their operations illegal, destructive to the environment, and inimical to the interests of local residents.

Former Quirino Gov. Pedro Bacani condemned all small-scale mining activities at the Didipio mining impact zone, particularly on the slopes of Dinkidi Hill, host to the OceanaGold Philippines gold-copper project that straddles the boundaries of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.

“These people do not have permits. We cannot tolerate these unregulated mining activities,” he said. “Besides, these people do not pay taxes and they indiscriminately create soil tears that lead to large-scale erosion and landslides, especially during the rainy season,” Bacani said.

“Because the nomadic miners do not observe government rules and regulations in their operations, they are unwittingly exposing themselves to certain danger as well as those living at the immediate impact zone and those residing downstream [Nagtipunan, Cabarroguis and Aglipay towns in Quirino] where floodwaters will meet in rampaging wrath,” said Bacani.

Illegal mining-related deaths have been reported recently and in the past.

An investigative team from the Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) that conducted water testing from tributaries of the Didipio river network, declared the presence of mercury in the upland river system.

The NVSU report was further confirmed by the National Science Research Institute at the University of the Philippines. The water samples of one liter each from Camgat and Didipio Rivers positively yielded mercury at an average concentration approximately twice the tolerable levels.

“As a result, the water from Camgat and Didipio Rivers is not safe for human consumption. The color of the water is murky brown probably due to suspended materials. Dissolved oxygen is too low which prevents plankton and algae [which serve as fish food] from reproducing,” explained Elmer Castañeto, head of the research team.

“Inland fishing used to be an easy source of income, but today, there are no more clean waters to fish from. Mercury is highly-toxic even in small amount,” he said.

Blood samples, too, taken from Didipio residents examined at St. Luke’s Medical Center were proven mercury positive.

“With the result of our survey positively yielding the dreadful mercury, this is scary enough for everybody to be aware about the dangers it may impose to one’s life,” warned NVSU president Marilou Gilo Abon.

Alarmed by the mercury pollution report, Department of Environment and Natural resources Sec. Lito Atienza assured that his department will strictly implement all rules and regulations against the pollution of the environment in mining activities.

“We are committed in promoting clean and healthy environment at the same time protecting the country’s natural resources from undue exploitation,” Atienza said.

Prompted by the survey’s alarming results, with emphasis on the mercury contamination of the surrounding waters, the NVSU probe team conducted a mining advocacy at the Didipio Elementary School for local residents, students and promine as well as anti-mine advocates.
During the forum, the residents immediately pointed fingers to small-scale miners operating without permit in the area as the culprits to the mercury contamination.

Traditionally, small-scale miners use mercury to extract gold with the aid of water which is indiscriminately drained into nearby rivers.

Vaporizing metallic liquid mercury in the heating process is very dangerous to human health. Once mercury is inhaled, this goes to the lungs and 80 percent of what is inhaled is retained by the body, dissolved in fatty tissue, and can damage the central nervous system. Mercury exposure causes damage to the kidney, cardiovascular and immunological system, brain, spinal cord and liver.

Human intake of mercury-containing fish, accumulated over time, can impair a person’s ability to feel, see, move and taste; and causes numbness, tunnel vision, and leads eventually to coma, and death. Mercury intake by pregnant women can cause disorders in the mother and the unborn child.

The hunt for gold in remote parts of Luzon has gone on for many years. But this has intensified of late with higher gold prices which have recently exceeded $1,000 per ounce. As more small-scale miners begin showing up in communities in hopes of striking it rich, additional pressure is placed on community infrastructure and the presence of widespread environmental damage is on the increase.

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Vizcaya officials unite against illegal mining

GOLD MILLING. Operating without permit, a small-scale miner runs
an old-fashioned ball mill to extract gold in an upland village in
Nueva Vizcaya. A Nueva Vizcaya State University report declared that
indiscriminate use of mercury by illegal miners has contaminated the
river networks in mining villages.

Vizcaya officials unite against illegal mining

The rising casualties in the illegal small-scale mining operations in the province has prompted provincial officials to cross party lines in an attempt to stamp out the practice.

Nueva Vizcaya provincial board member Patricio Dumlao Jr. criticized the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the environment department and local officials in mineral-rich municipalities where there are rampant illegal small-scale mining for their
failure to curb what he described as destructive mining ventures. “If local officials in those areas are not illegal miners themselves or if they are not in cahoots with the operators, then it would be easy for them to hunt and stop all mining operations in their respective jurisdictions.

Administrative charges can be filed against these officials for dereliction
of duty,” warned Dumlao.

Nueva Vizcaya Vice Governor Jose Gambito Jr., who used to chair the provincial small-scale mining board, confirmed that no permits were issued to small-scale miners
who operate in a mining area already under Financial Technical Assistance
Agreement (FTAA).

Gambito was referring to the Dinkidi Hill area in the upland town of Kasibu where OceanaGold Philippines Inc. was granted the rights by the national government to operate the Didipio gold-copper project under an FTAA.

The MGB says FTAA may be entered into between a contractor and the national government for the large-scale exploration, development and utilization of gold, copper, nickel, chromite, lead, zinc. The approval of applications is subject to qualifications and requirements set by the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and
other existing mineral policies of the Philippines.

Dumlao expressed fears that undocumented small-scale mining operations in the province may not only endanger the miners but also the entire community where they operate unregulated. “Because they don’t have permits to operate, they are illegal and there are no records for the government to monitor their activities while technically evading tax obligations. How can we entice foreign investments
into the country if we can not protect legal mining projects that pay substantial
tax revenues to the government?” Dumlao asked.

Dumlao who hails from Nueva Vizcaya’s north district said using toxic mercury in extracting gold endangers not only the lives of people living in the area but the natural ecology as well. He also mentioned the indiscriminate use of dynamite in mine tunnel excavation as extremely fatal to the miners based on reported blasting related deaths recently.

During the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting, Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Luisa Lloren Curesma ordered the local authorities to stop all illegal mining anywhere in the province.

“These must be stopped. We can’t just sit here waiting for another death or tragedy to happen. Besides most of these people are not Novo Vizcayanos and yet they exploit and ruin our natural resources,” said Cuaresma who now heads the provincial smallscale mining regulatory board.





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Disaster seen from unregulated small-scale mining in Quirino

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IN PHOTO -- Armed with a mechanical backhoe digger, an illegal small-scale miner attacks the slopes of the Dinkidi Hill in Didipio indiscriminately hitting portions of a tree plantation developed by OceanaGold Philippines as part of its advance rehabilitation program.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Disaster seen from unregulated small-scale mining in Quirino




MADDELA, Quirino—A former governor of this province has called for the complete stop of all small-scale mining activities in this province, calling their operations illegal, destructive to the environment, and inimical to the interests of local residents.

Former Quirino Gov. Pedro Bacani condemned all small-scale mining activities at the Didipio mining impact zone, particularly on the slopes of Dinkidi Hill, host to the OceanaGold Philippines gold-copper project that straddles the boundaries of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.

“These people do not have permits. We cannot tolerate these unregulated mining activities,” he said. “Besides, these people do not pay taxes and they indiscriminately create soil tears that lead to large-scale erosion and landslides, especially during the rainy season,” Bacani said.

“Because the nomadic miners do not observe government rules and regulations in their operations, they are unwittingly exposing themselves to certain danger as well as those living at the immediate impact zone and those residing downstream [Nagtipunan, Cabarroguis and Aglipay towns in Quirino] where floodwaters will meet in rampaging wrath,” said Bacani.

Illegal mining-related deaths have been reported recently and in the past.

An investigative team from the Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) that conducted water testing from tributaries of the Didipio river network, declared the presence of mercury in the upland river system.

The NVSU report was further confirmed by the National Science Research Institute at the University of the Philippines. The water samples of one liter each from Camgat and Didipio Rivers positively yielded mercury at an average concentration approximately twice the tolerable levels.

“As a result, the water from Camgat and Didipio Rivers is not safe for human consumption. The color of the water is murky brown probably due to suspended materials. Dissolved oxygen is too low which prevents plankton and algae [which serve as fish food] from reproducing,” explained Elmer Castañeto, head of the research team.

“Inland fishing used to be an easy source of income, but today, there are no more clean waters to fish from. Mercury is highly-toxic even in small amount,” he said.

Blood samples, too, taken from Didipio residents examined at St. Luke’s Medical Center were proven mercury positive.

“With the result of our survey positively yielding the dreadful mercury, this is scary enough for everybody to be aware about the dangers it may impose to one’s life,” warned NVSU president Marilou Gilo Abon.

Alarmed by the mercury pollution report, Department of Environment and Natural resources Sec. Lito Atienza assured that his department will strictly implement all rules and regulations against the pollution of the environment in mining activities.

“We are committed in promoting clean and healthy environment at the same time protecting the country’s natural resources from undue exploitation,” Atienza said.

Prompted by the survey’s alarming results, with emphasis on the mercury contamination of the surrounding waters, the NVSU probe team conducted a mining advocacy at the Didipio Elementary School for local residents, students and promine as well as anti-mine advocates.

During the forum, the residents immediately pointed fingers to small-scale miners operating without permit in the area as the culprits to the mercury contamination.

Traditionally, small-scale miners use mercury to extract gold with the aid of water which is indiscriminately drained into nearby rivers.

Vaporizing metallic liquid mercury in the heating process is very dangerous to human health. Once mercury is inhaled, this goes to the lungs and 80 percent of what is inhaled is retained by the body, dissolved in fatty tissue, and can damage the central nervous system. Mercury exposure causes damage to the kidney, cardiovascular and immunological system, brain, spinal cord and liver.

Human intake of mercury-containing fish, accumulated over time, can impair a person’s ability to feel, see, move and taste; and causes numbness, tunnel vision, and leads eventually to coma, and death. Mercury intake by pregnant women can cause disorders in the mother and the unborn child.

The hunt for gold in remote parts of Luzon has gone on for many years. But this has intensified of late with higher gold prices which have recently exceeded $1,000 per ounce. As more small-scale miners begin showing up in communities in hopes of striking it rich, additional pressure is placed on community infrastructure and the presence of widespread environmental damage is on the increase.





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