TWO party-list lawmakers have recently filed a resolution asking the House Committee on Natural Resources to investigate, in aid of legislation, the effects of the suspended operations of four mining companies in Santa Cruz and Candelaria, Zambales, which have reportedly displaced farmers and fishermen and caused health concerns in the area.
House Resolution 1797, authored by Reps. Ibarra M. Gutierrez III and Walden F. Bello of Anakbayan, seeks “to identify the problems and explore the possible solutions to the problematic mining operations, and prevent the occurrence of similar conditions in other areas in the Philippines.”
The resolution said that Benguet Nickel Minerals Inc., Eramen Minerals Inc., Zambales Diversified Metals Corp. and Filipinas Mining Corp. were authorized by national government agencies to simultaneously extract nickel by stripping the mountains to unearth and haul nickel minerals.
“Although the government has already issued a suspension order on the operations of the four mining firms, the damage has been done,” the resolution said.
It said as a result of the simultaneous mining operations, farms and rivers in Santa Cruz and Candelaria, Zambales, were destroyed and affected residents complained of rising incidence of asthma and skin allergies.
“Affected farmers and fishermen complained of destruction of their farms and rivers, but were not given adequate attention by local government officials because of the seemingly regular permits issued to the mining companies by national government. The affected residents developed health concerns like asthma and skin allergies,” the resolution said.
Because of the environmental and safety concerns raised by the simultaneous operations of the mining companies, a Multidisciplinary Team was convened to conduct monitoring and impact evaluation of the affected receiving streams and adjoining receptors.
The resolution said the team was composed of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region 3 Technical Team, representatives of the Concerned Citizens of Santa Cruz, the Zambales Provincial Engineering Office, the Department of Public Works and Highways District Office of Zambales, Municipal Engineering Office of Santa Cruz, Municipal Planning and Development Office of Santa Cruz and Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management-DENR Region 3.