Large-scale mining requires government approval

CALAPAN CITY, Philippines – The power of the national government on the management of large-scale mining over the local government units is once again pointed out by Vice President Noli de Castro as he noted that the government is really determined to revitalize the said industry to cushion the current global financial crisis.

This, the Vice President said during the meeting of the provincial development council, held at the provincial capitol here, where he graced the occasion in support of his fellow Mindoreños last week.

De Castro, also a Cabinet officer for regional development for Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan (MIMAROPA) Region 4B, said here that while the national government is resolute on the “revitalization of the mining industry,” as specified in EO No. 270 of President Arroyo, the protection of the environment and natural resources is not being left out. According to him, aside from the strict ruling on the protection and preservation of the country’s natural resources as embodied in the Mining Act of 1995, the said the executive order is also giving the people and its local governments the right whether they will permit large-scale mining or not in their respective areas once mining companies failed in explaining fully to the community the effects of their target operation.

De Castro, who hails from Pola, Oriental Mindoro where a Norwegian-owned mining company, Intex Resources, is set to put up a harbor facilities in anticipation of its mining operations in the adjacent town of Victoria, specifically made the said statements to quash apprehensions the local folks have regarding the said pending project.

Intex Resources, together with its local partner Aglubang Mining Corp., have already secured a mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) with the national government as represented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to extract precious nickel and cobalt deposits in central Mindoro Island under the Mindoro Nickel Project.