DAVAO CITY—The government halted the operation of a mining company in Davao Oriental following the discoloration of the river waters, which indicates a sudden discharge of soil extracts from the mountain mines to the waterways.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) ordered the mining company on Monday to immediately stop its operations that allegedly caused the recent siltation incident along the Pintatagan River and Maputi River in the municipality of Banaybanay, Davao Oriental, according to a statement from the office of Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang.
The order was prompted by a communication from Dayanghirang to the MGB after the river waters turned orange, which was blamed for the fish kill along the rivers.
Dayanghirang said the MGB order of stoppage of operation was confirmed by MGB Director Wilfredo G. Moncano.
The MGB Central Office has already “given instruction to its regional office to issue the Stoppage Order to the company to give way to a joint detailed investigation to find out the causes and the means to mitigate the damages,” the provincial office quoted Moncano as saying.
The regional Department of Environment and Natural Resources posted on its website that it has served the “cease and desist order”, a “notice of violation” and a “show cause” also on Monday to Riverbend Consolidated Mining Corp./Arc Nickel Resources Inc. (ANRI) in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.
The DENR XI said this was the company involved in the recent siltation incident in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental on January 14.
“The said incident happened at Mapagba and Pinatatagan Rivers in Banaybanay after heavy rains occurred for more than 12 hours with an accumulated rainfall intensity of 88.1 mm on January 13 as per Pagasa Tagum Station,” the DENR XI statement said.
It said the “potential source” of siltation and discoloration along said rivers was attributed to the active mining activity of the said company. It said this was based on the initial investigation and assessment of DENR-XI’s composite team from DENR-XI Regional Office, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-XI), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-XI) and the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Lupon that was conducted last January 15.
The investigation also revealed that the heavy and continuous rain last January 13-14 “pushed overburden materials that contributed to the overflowing of silt pond, draining towards the said river”.
It said the MGB-XI “has issued a show cause with cease and desist order to the mining company while EMB-XI issued a Notice of Violation.”
Strict monitoring
DENR-XI Regional Director Bagani Fidel A. Evasco said the company was ordered to immediately address the issue “and the implementation of which shall be subject to strict monitoring.”
“Our legal team is also evaluating further action with regards to any of the violations and we will assure a strict implementation of the environmental laws. Penalties and fines are also being considered,” Evasco said.
It said the DENR XI and the affected local government of Banaybanay would conduct regular monitoring of the area until the incident is addressed.
“Further evaluation is being conducted as to the extent of environmental impact but rest assured that we, in DENR XI, together with EMB, MGB, PENROS and CENROS have made appropriate actions to address the matter in coordination with other government agencies and LGUs,” Evasco said.
Dayanghirang said the MGB has assured him that “the company will not be allowed to resume until corrective measures are done, and the appropriate sanctions are imposed.” He said the mining company has informed him that it was “working on mitigation measures to control the water discoloration and siltation, as well as to enhance the environmental mitigating measures”.
“While these mining companies help generate income, provide livelihoods for the locals, and help the country recover its economy, the provincial and the national government are firm on their stand not to allow these mining companies to operate recklessly and destroy the environment,” he said.
“Irresponsible mining is unacceptable as it poses serious, long-term threats to communities and waterways. The preservation and conservation of the environment should come first above everything else,” he added.
The Riverbend Consolidated Mining Corporation/Arc Nickel Resources, Inc. (ANRI) operates a “Nickel Laterite Mining Project Project” in Barangays Puntalinao, Causwagan, Pintatagan, Maputi, Panikian, and Mahayag, all in the municipality of Banaybanay. It was granted a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement in June 2016 with a project area of 6,363.3368 hectares.
Ban open-pit mining
Environmental groups under the Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment (Kalkasan-PNE) on Tuesday called for stricter mining regulation that would go beyond mere suspension of mining operations in the case of Riverbend.
Because of the incident, Kalikasan-PNE urged the government to reinstate the late Environment chief Regina Paz L. Lopez’s open-pit mining ban.
“This mine spill spells more mining disasters to come “if we do not reinstate the open pit mine ban and new mining application moratorium that President Rodrigo Duterte passed,” the group said.
According to Kalikasan-PNE, despite safety certifications from mining companies, such incidents will still happen.
“This is the myth of so-called responsible mining, with companies like Riverbend Mining being the norm rather than the exception.”
The group noted that the now red-orange waters of the Maputi River reflect the destruction that large-scale mining causes.
With a report from Jonathan L. Mayuga