SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte -The indefinite suspension of all small-scale mining and quarrying operations in this province has been ordered by new Gov. Sol Forcadilla-Matugas following the discovery of rampant violations of environmental laws.
Matugas' unprecedented action came following a recommendation submitted to her office by a multi-sectoral group which she earlier organized to evaluate the environmental effect of small-scale mining and quarrying operations in this mineral-rich Caraga province.
The provincial executive, who was a former regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Eastern Visayas, directed the provincial police office and other local law enforcement agencies to arrest and file appropriate cases against persons or companies which would disregard her directive.
Explaining that her action is a part of her administration's intensified campaign against illegal mining and quarrying, Matugas expected that the suspension would ultimately "pave the way for the rehabilitation of areas damaged, if not destroyed, by mining and quarrying."
According to Matugas, former pioneer president of the Association of DepEd Directors (ADD), the multi-sectoral body she formed discovered numerous violations of environmental regulations by small-scale mining and quarrying companies whose number has increased owing to the prevalence of gold, chromite, nickel and other minerals in the province.
At the same time, Matugas sought for the revision of the Mining Act of 1995 which limits the authority and power of local government units to inspect or check large-scale mining firms which secure their permits from the central office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
She noted that the Mining Act needs necessary amendment as " it withholds the authority of local governments to regulate and check violations of multinational mining companies."
