DILG, DENR to help enforce mining ban in Romblon

The people of Romblon scored double breakthroughs early this week in their fight against mining after the provincial government gained the full backing of the national government in enforcing the mining ban in the province. “We will enforce the mining ban in Romblon," Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo told provincial officials led by Romblon Vice Governor Manuel Madrid in a meeting held at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) III last Wednesday. Joining Madrid in the meeting with Secretary Robredo were Mayors Dindo Rios of the municipality of San Fernando, Ibarra Mansala of Magdiwang town, and Festo Galang of Cajidiocan town. In January this year, Romblon Governor Eduardo Firmalo issued an Executive Order imposing an indefinite moratorium on all metallic mining in the province after several mining areas, particularly in Sibuyan Island, tested positive for high-level concentration of mercury, a toxic chemical used in mining specifically for separating gold from ore. Last Wednesday, Secretary Robredo advised the local government (LGU) heads present at the meeting to address not just the problem on enforcement of the ban but also the livelihood concerns of those who will be displaced immediately by the moratorium – about 500 families in Sibuyan Island whose livelihood mainly depends on small-scale mining. On effective enforcement, the Secretary said he would instruct the Provincial Police Office to strictly implement the ban in cooperation with the LGUs. On the economic side, he assured the delegation that he will help the province secure assistance from different government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for immediate and long term livelihood projects. No more mining permit At a dialog with local officials and civic leaders earlier last week, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje said, "We will not sign any mining permit in the province of Romblon." Romblon officials who were at the dialog include Governor Firmalo, municipal mayors Festo Galang, Limuel Cipriano of Concepcion, Eddie Lota of Alcantara, and Artemio Madrid of Sta. Maria. Odiongan Sangguniang Bayan member Bonbon Fernandez, Bishop Ronel Fabriquer of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), General Orville Gabuna of the Commission on Appointments, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) representative Rodne Galicha, and Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) head Dr. Art Tansiongco were among other local officials and civic leaders present at the forum with Secretary Paje. Meanwhile, House Bill No. 4815, which seeks to declare the whole province of Romblon as a no mining zone, had already passed the committee level in the House of Representatives. — Jerbert Briola/LBG, GMA News