TACLOBAN CITY - The Leyte provincial leaders are not opposed to applications filed by mining firms with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau for mining exploration activities in various towns in the province, as long as these activities are limited to merely exploration, and not full commercial mining operations.
Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla made this declaration recently, saying he has to have the full consent and support of the people in the province, particularly the residents of communities affected by the proposed mining activities.
"We do not oppose mining explorations as long as the companies comply with the stipulations and condition of their exploration permit," Petilla underlined, even as he warned that "they should not start full mining operation in the area."
He disclosed that there have been calls from various sectors in the province to defer the approval of mining exploration permits applied for by at least four mining companies, but Leyte's Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is already studying these applications and has a pending schedule for another consultative meeting with the companies applying for permits with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
The SP or provincial board is poised to fully study the application and proposals of the mining companies before it passes a resolution on whether or not to endorse said companies mining exploration applications.
The effort of the lawmakers in seriously appraising the situation, and in their intention to craft a resolution with regards to mining operations in the province of Leyte after the scheduled consultative meetings was lauded by the Leyte governor
