Gov wants revocation of mining claims in Bulacan

by Ramon Efren R. Lazaro

CITY OF MALOLOS —Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado has made an urgent request to Environment Sec. Ramon Paje for the immediate revocation/denial of all mining claims/applications of Neutron Construction and Marketing Corp. (NCMC) and Atlantic Mines and Trading Corp. (AMTC) in the province.

Alvarado’s letter, dated May 31, 2012 to Paje and copy furnished to Leo Jasareno, director of the Mines and Geoscience Bureau and Danilo Uykieng, OIC-regional director MGB-DENR in Central Luzon, cites countless reports and complaints expressing strong opposition against the alleged unlawful and unfair mining claims/applications and operations of NCMC and AMTC covering an area of 14,000 hectares in the mountainous town of Dona Remedios Trinidad.

Alvarado also cited the murder of the company’s geodetic engineer, Arnel Iqual, on May 23 this year in the mining area that “shows the company’s inability to maintain peace and order in their atrocious mining claim.”

The governor added that the “brutal killing happened in the presence of seven other security personnel, who are allegedly armed and have been involved in various incidents of harassment  of residents-landowners within their mining claims, and worse of the indigenous peoples living therein.

The governor also noted that the municipal government of Dona Remedios Trinidad has long been opposing and complaining the appalling mining claims of NCMC and AMTC for it has been depriving landowners to enjoy their full rights over their properties and their failure to operate retards the progress of the town and its people.

With this, Alvarado  attached the municipality’s Kapasyahan Bilang 2006-065 entitled “Kapasiyahang Hinihiling sa Tanggapan ng Kagawaran ng Pagmimina at Likas na Yaman (Bureau of Mines) na Makansela ang Mining Rights ng Malawakang/Malakihang Pagmimina ng Neutron Construction and Marketing Corporation sa Bayan ng Dona Remedios Trinidad.”

Included was the letter of then-Mayor Evelyn Paulino that expressed her strong opposition and concerns as regards its adverse environmental impact, watershed destruction and existing stewardship contracts.

The governor also said that the present officials of Dona Remedios Trinidad are also strongly opposing the mining claims/applications and operations of NCMC and AMTC.

Alvarado cited a municipal resolution approving the request of NCMC and AMTC was passed but vetoed by Mayor Ronaldo Flores on the grounds of requirement for current barangay resolutions of newly elected barangay officials granting their request; certification given by NCIP is only for exploration and not mining operations; the actual determination that the area beingclaimed have tax declaration, title and other actual occupant; permission of the landowners; submission of all documents needed by the office of the mayor; and legal bases that it is within the ancestral domain.

The Sierra Madre Environmental Society Inc., Alvarado said also filed a letter-complaint to Secretary Paje on August 26, 2011 that NCMC and AMtC have failed “to comply with the mandatory requirements for the approval of their atrocious mining claims/applications such as public hearing, resolutions of all barangays and municipal government of Dona Remedios Trinidad, requirement under several DENR issuances, etc., and thus they have no right to demand royalty from landowners who want to benefit from their lands.

Alvarado said the provincial government of Bulacan adopts the said letter and joins the said NGO in its prayer to cancel/revoke all the mining claims/applications of NCMC and AMTC in Dona Remedios Trinidad.

DENR, Alvarado said must also consider the resolution passed by the Samahan ng mga Liga ng Barangay under Kapasiyahan Bilang 2011-004 “Kapasiyahang Hinihiling sa Butihing Tanggapan ng Mines and Geoscience Bureau Regional Office III, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, na Mapawalang Bisa ang Aplikasyon ng MPSA ng Neuton construction and Marketing Corporation at Atlantic Mines and Trading Corporation sa Nasasakupan ng Bayan ng Dona Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan.

Due to the numerous complaints against the said mining companies, the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resource Office (BENRO) headed by Rustico de Belen conducted investigations that reveal “several violations committed by NCMC and AMTC not only within their large-scal mining but also their small-scale mining operations.”

The governor said that based on their records, the said companies “have been operating outside of the permitted area and allowed illegal operations in their mining claims, thus tantamount to illegal extraction or illegal mining in violation of mining and other environmental laws.

Because of these violations, Alvarado said that they have requested for the immediate cancellation/revocation/denial of all mining claims/applications and related permits in the name of Neutron construction and Marketing Corp. and Atlantic Mines and Trading Corp. in the province of Bulacan and the declaration of the entire areas as Minahang Bayan  as a very vital livelihood program of the municipality of Dona Remedios Trinidad.