Bishop Broderick Pabillo visits three sites of struggle in Nueva Viscaya
By atm.admin - Posted on July 31st, 2008
Stirred by his visit to Sibuyan mining site last May 2008, last July 9 – 13, 2008; this time the revered bishop heeded the call of the three mining communities of Nueva Viscaya. Elated with joy and inspiration, the communities of Barangays Pacquet and Didipio of Kasibu and Barangays Runruno and Caliat of Quezon all of Nueva Viscaya, had warmly welcomed Bishop Broderick Pabillo and his companions from NASSA-Ecology (Joyce Palacol), TFD (Juliet Wasit and Josie), PhilRights (Emy Tapiru), LRC (Ronald and Atty. Grace), ATM (Terence Osorio), Veritas Correspondent (Al), AMRSP-JPICC (Fr. Archie Casey, SX) and myself (Floro Acaba Jr).
Hundreds of community members flocked to the meetings and Masses eager to hear what the bishop has to say. True enough, no one left those meetings unmoved by what the beloved Bishop told them. Both inspiring and challenging messages was delivered with utmost honesty, compassion and bluntness, that in one instance, made one pro-mining community member left at the middle of the meeting cowed and bowed.
In Barangay Pacquet of Kasibu the Mass/ Meeting was even held in a Pentecostal Church. In here, he stressed the need for unity and action to oppose large scale mining regardless of ones belief and church affiliation. Surrounded by green plantations of Citrus and other crops, the bishop took it an opportunity to remind everyone that stewardship of Gods’ creation is an every Christian duty and responsibility, and destroying it is a sinful act and a violation of His commandments.
The Masses were coupled with consultations. The Bishop along with his company sat with the people, mostly IPs (Ifugao, Bugkalot, Kalanguya, Kankanaey, etc) in an atmosphere of camaraderie and humility, listened to their grievances, suggestions and aspirations regarding their plight on mining and other things. All these were done till evenings the reason we had to sleep in these three communities.
The visits aside from its pastoral and solidarity purposes is in response to the challenge posed by the DENR Secretary during the Bishop-Secretary dialogue held last April 26, 2008, to come up with concrete cases of mining violations, hazards brought by it, in order to help the Secretary identify the mining companies violating the laws, and punished them, if found guilty. For the bishop this was an eye opener he himself saw the real situation in these mining communities.
The SoS solidarity visit commenced with a courtesy-visit to Bishop Ramon Villena and culminated with a Press Conference at the Diocesan Pastoral Center of Bayombong. The event was attended by local press and a few national media outfits.
Delicious
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Technorati
Icerocket- 11790 reads
- Email this page
Printer-friendly version
DENR Cancels 65 Inactive Mining Tenements
DENR Cancels 65 Inactive Mining Tenements
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ordered final and executory the cancellation of 65 non-performing mining tenements totaling 68,570 hectares throughout the country.
DENR Secretary Michael T. Defensor at the time said the move was prompted by the failure of contractors to undertake mining activities under their respective contracts for a long period of time.
“The cancellation of non-performing mining tenements being implemented by the department is an effort to maximize the resource potential of the country’s mineral lands under the government’s mining revitalization program,” Defensor said.
Is there a rational disposition of the mineral lands covered by the cancelled mining tenements?
Earlier, the DENR issued Department Memorandum Order (DMO) No. 2005-03 providing the Mines and Geosciences Bureau a list of cancelled non-performing mining tenements.
Non-performance of mining tenements for a long period of time is regarded as a violation against the Mining Act of 1995 and the terms and conditions of the mining tenements.
Defensor said that after the mining concerned contractors concerned failed to file their respective motions for reconsideration, whether within or beyond the reglementary period as provided for under existing laws, he then issued the cancellation order for their mining tenements final and executory.
The cancelled mining tenements include one Mining Lease Contract (MLC) (No. MRD-V-460) covering 92 hectares in Itogon Benguet in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR); another one MLC (No.MRD-V-535-I) in Infanta, Pangasinan in Region 1 covering 74.16 hectares; one Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) (No.040-96-II in Calayan, Cagayan in Region 2 covering 1,692 hectares; and in Region 3, one MPSA (No.036-96-III covering 26.5681 hectares in San Ildefonso, Bulacan and MLC (No. MRD-V-384 covering 332.45 hectares also in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.
In Region 4-A, MLC (No. MRD-V-357 covering 34.4401 hectares and MLC (No. MRD-V-319) covering 14.0285 hectares, both of Tagkawayan, Quezon; in Region 4-B, MLC (No. MRD-V-338 covering 383 hectares and MLC (No. MRD-V-380) covering 512 hectares, all in Quezon, Palawan; MLC (No. MRD-V-240) covering 249.711 hectares in Boac, Marinduque; MLC (No.MRD-245 to 249) covering a total of 122.27 hectares in Torrijos and Sta.Cruz, Marinduque; MLC (No. MRD-V-289) covering 166.48 hectares in Boac, Marinduque; MLC (No.MRD-V-419) covering 80 hectares in Sta.Cruz, Marinduque; and MLC (No.MRD-V-286) covering 334.02 hectares in Magdiwang, Romblon.
In Region V, MLC (No.MRD-V-402) covering 32.7 hectares in San Rafael, Camarines Norte; MLC (No.MRD-V-413) covering 153 hectares in Paracale, Camarines Norte; MLC (No.MRD-V-414) covering 42 hectares also in Paracale, Camarines Norte; MLC (No. MRD-V-293) covering 242.22 hectares in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur; and MLC (No.MRD-V-373) covering 83.01 hectares in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur.
In Region 6, MPSA (No.037-96-VI) covering 2,496.3750 hectares in Balasan and Carles, Iloilo; MLC (No.MRD-V-385) covering 83.88 hectares in Dumarao, Capiz; MLC (No.MRD-V-183) covering 16 hectares in Sagay, Negros Occidental; MLC (No.MRD-V-257) covering 36 hectares in Patnongon, Antique; and MLC (No.MRD-V-258) covering 31 hectares also in Patnongon, Antique.
In Region 7, MLC (No.MRD-V-214-VII) covering 90 hectares in Toledo City; MLC (No.MRD-V-281-VII) covering 6.04 hectares in Compostela, Cebu; and MLC (No.MRD-V-336-VII) also of Compostela, Cebu.
Other cancelled mining tenements include 16 MLCs and MPSAs in Region 8 covering a total area of 18,922.2 hectares; two in Region 9 covering a total of 8,829 hectares; seven in Region 10 covering a total of 32,934.31 hectares; one MPSA in Region 11 covering 371.19 hectares; and seven MLCs in Region 12 covering a total of 113.72 hectares.
What is the present situation regarding these cancelled Tenements?
CANCELLED TENEMENTS
CANCELLED TENEMENTS
In an effort to maximize the resource potential of the country’s mineral lands under the government’s mining revitalization program, these 65 cancelled tenements were transferred from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the DENR to the Philippine Mining Development Corportaion (PMDC) in 2007.
In September 2007, PMDC published an invitation to all interested mining companies, both local and foreign, to apply for eligibility and submit sealed bid proposals for a Joint Operating Agreement for the exploration, development and mining operations of the PMDC mining properties initially put up for public bidding.
On December 14, 2007, the PMDC awarded the winning bidders for the initial three (3) cancelled mining tenements put up for public bidding. These properties were:
The winning bidders were: Masada Resources and Mining Corporation for the Hernani Chromite property; and the Mt. Sinai Exploration and Development Corporation for the Homonhon and Opol Chromite properties.
Post new comment