Capiz LGUs, PCL oppose mining moratorium repeal

ROXAS CITY, Philippines — Eleven local government units in Capiz and the Philippine Councilors’ League Capiz Provincial Federation are not in agreement to the lifting of the 50-year mining moratorium in the province, a PNA report said the other day.

This was disclosed during Thursday’s hearing of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) committee on environment on the proposed ordinance that seeks to reinstate the moratorium on large-scale mining activities in the province, according to the provincial government’s Capiz Aksyon News Center.

A 15-year moratorium was created through Ordinance No. 6, Series of 1999 and was amended to 50 years via Ordinance No. 1, Series of 2002. It was lifted on May 11, 2016.

Provincial Board member Jonathan Besa, author of the proposed ordinance, said that the Mining Act of 1995 is “silent” on the creation of moratoriums as he raised his concern on the harmful effects of mining.

Capiz is also a standalone tourism development area of the Department of Tourism, so mining activities are prohibited in the province, he added.

PB Member Jeffrey Layo said local ordinances should be “harmonized” with national laws as he also echoed his concerns on the impacts of mining.

Incumbent Governor Tony Del Rosario who assumed office on July 1, 2016 said he would not implement the lifting of the moratorium.

Also throwing support to the reinstatement of the 50-year moratorium are members of the Capiz Environmental Protection Alliance and Capiz Lawyers for the Environment.

A position paper was also signed by Capiznon lawyers saying that a moratorium to large-scale mining activities is legal.

To recall, the municipality of Maayon has called for the repeal of the moratorium by virtue of ordinances passed by its Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Barangay of Canapian that allow the Teresa Marbles Corporation (TMC) to do mining operations in their barangay.

Canapian Barangay Captain Allan Lucas said that the barangay has yet to realize the economic and social benefits of the mining project because the (two) ordinances prohibit TMC from operating.

“Barangay Canapian believes that our God-given resources must be utilized and put to good use wherein our community can benefit economically through job creation, business opportunities and social projects,” the barangay captain mentioned in the letter.

Allain Pleyto of Teresa Marble Corporation (TMC) said that their corporation adheres to the law.

TMC must pass different requirements which include Environmental Compliance Certificate, Social Development Program, and Final Mine Rehabilitation Program, Pleyto said. (FREEMAN)