By Lyka Manalo
Lobo, Batangas – This third-class municipality located in the southern tip of the province was once embroiled in an ugly controversy involving its rich deposits of gold.
A few years back, the local government here was denounced by several environmental advocated and the church when it showed support for a proposed mining project by Mindoro Resources Limited (MRL) Gold and Egerton Gold Philippines.
The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) even approved a resolution in April, 2015, endorsing the project which will mine in the mountainous areas of Barangays Balibago, Mabilog na Bundok, Malabrigo, Nagtaluntong, Olo-Olo, Sawang, Nagtotoc, Soloc, and Tayuman.
This was met with huge howls of protest from the public and the church, forcing the Lobo SB to withdraw its support for the project barely three months later.
Thus, it came to pass that even some local leaders were disappointed that the huge mining project did not push through, considering that MRL and Egerton, which undertook exploration in the town for more than a decade, had provided local residents well with employment and other benefits.
Barangay Balibago Chairman Nestor Camo acknowledged that when the exploration was being undertaken, MRL and Egerton provided jobs to his constituents, even to those without educational background.
He also noted that the company donated money and materials for the construction of a new chapel when the old one was destroyed by a storm; provided equipment for the flattening of a hilly area to make way for the construction of school buildings; and the installation of pipelines for the water system, among other barangay projects.
“They (MRL) asked me about the situation then I told them, there is no problem with me about the mining operations but if its open-pit mining, I think its not OK for the environment,” Camo said worrying landslides and seawater contaminations might occur if the mining will proceed.
But the promise of huge fortunes from mining has since been replaced by the actual gains being made by Lobo town from its agro-tourism thrust.
The Lobo SB council has declared the town as an agro-tourism center with the approval of a 10-year Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), excluding mining from its scope.
Indeed, it was but appropriate to shift its focus since Lobo is one of the coastal towns straddling Verde Island Passage (VIP), which was declared as the center of marine biodiversity in the world.
Marine conservation areas have also been declared, namely, the Lobo Mangrove Conservation Area, Sawang and Olo-Olo Fish Sanctuary and Refuge Area, Malabrigo Fish Sanctuary and Refuge Area and Biga Fish Sanctuary and Refuge Area.
The Lobo local government unit (LGU) has also intensified law enforcement on fishery and resource conservation in protecting fish sanctuaries.
The LGU has also installed more than 4,200 artificial reefs in Barangays Soloc, Malabrigo, Olo-Olo, Biga, Balibago and Lagadlarin to increase marine productivity, thus, more opportunities for fishermen.
The LGU is now also promoting community-based marine tourism, farm and mountain tourism in collaboration with DENR, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), ABS-CBN Bantay Kalikasan and other public and private agencies.
Lobo Mayor Gaudioso Manalo said road projects and infrastructures on tourism development in town are underway, including the roads that will connect the towns of Laiya, San Juan-Malabrigo, and Lobo that will provide more access to beach resorts and diving sites.
The municipality is promoting a package tour which let the tourists to see the beauty of nature such as the 21-hectare Jaybanga Rica Terraces, 34-hectare Mangrove Forest, Malabrigo Light House historical site and to experience mountain hiking, fishing, diving and more.
Manalo said they will hire forest rangers who are trained and deputized by the DENR to take care of the virgin forest in Lobo and its wildlife.
As the development of tourism and agriculture continues in Lobo, residents and environmental advocates agree that mining for gold could never compare to the benefits the town is currently reaping.
“We’ve found gold in (nurturing) nature and the environment,” Manalo said.