Small-scale mining in Tampakan areas feared

DAVAO DEL SUR, Philippines  – The mayor of Kiblawan town here said the entry of illegal small-scale mining activities “are more fearful and can bring greater harm” to their community and environment.

Areas surrounding Kiblawan sit on what is said to be the biggest copper-gold deposit in the country and is in fact part of the mining area for the proposed $5.9-billion Tampakan copper-gold project.

The large-scale Tampakan mining project, however, has been delayed, and in danger of being scrapped due to an existing “open-pit mining” provincial ban in neighboring South Cotabato.

“Because of Diwalwal and Pantukan, Compostela Valley, we are more scared of small-scale mining activities,” Kiblawan Mayor Marivic Diamante said.

Diamante said Kiblawan and the surrounding areas are “conducive to illegal small-scale mining due to peace and order concerns.”

“My fellow mayors from surrounding municipalities agree that once illegal small-scale mining activities start, we will be helpless to stop them,” she said.

Earlier reports from the Tampakan, South Cotabato local environment office said the continuing delay of the Tampakan mining project has done nothing but encourage illegal small-scale mining activities in the areas.

“Financiers of these illegal mining activities are stepping up their operations with the continuing delay of the Tampakan mining project due to the open-pit mining ban,” according to the Tampakan municipal environment office.