Crackdown on illegal mining ops up in Caraga region
Published Apr 29, 2018 12:13 pm
By Mike Crismundo
BUTUAN CITY – A National Task Force Mining Challenge (NTFMC) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) started carrying out its mission to crackdown all forms of illegal mining operations in various parts of Caraga region.
Map of Caraga (Credits: Google Map | Manila Bulletin file photo)
The task force is expected to shut down illegal mines and pursue illegal importers, retailers and distributors of explosives, cyanide and other toxic substances which are commonly used in small-scale mining operations.
The NTFMC is composed of the DENR offices of Operations and Administration, Finance and Legal, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the Philippine Army (PA) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other stakeholders.
Selected MGB-13 technical men and personnel joined the task force as members of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC) and as representatives of the primary responsible agency to implement the said special order.
In keeping with the DENR efforts to regulate small-scale mining operations and curb the proliferation of illegal mining in the country, all local government units are also urged to help put an end the destroyer of the environment.
The NTFMC was created under Special Order 2018-53 issued by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu recently that would ensure the strict enforcement of existing mining laws, policies, rules and regulations along with other related environmental laws.
In an initial salvo of the operation, a series of raids have been carried out last week (started April 17) in illegal small-scale mining sites and mineral processing plants in the municipalities of Alegria and Placer, both in Surigao del Norte, that led to the confiscation of artisanal items, mining tools and equipment and the eventual closure of the mining areas.
The initial operation also resulted in the seizure of four dump trucks for transport of sand and gravel/quarry materials without corresponding permits along Lipata Road in Surigao City.
​There are 80 gold-rush areas located in Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and part in Agusan del Sur as well as five chromite-rich areas in Dinagat Islands which are all engaged in illegal small-scale mining activities, it was learned.
In Surigao del Sur, the sand and gravel and quarry operations there were recently ordered temporarily stopped by the provincial government to protect its environment surroundings while regulating properly ordinances, rules and regulations in said operations, it was also learned.
Map of Caraga (Credits: Google Map | Manila Bulletin file photo)
The task force is expected to shut down illegal mines and pursue illegal importers, retailers and distributors of explosives, cyanide and other toxic substances which are commonly used in small-scale mining operations.
The NTFMC is composed of the DENR offices of Operations and Administration, Finance and Legal, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the Philippine Army (PA) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other stakeholders.
Selected MGB-13 technical men and personnel joined the task force as members of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC) and as representatives of the primary responsible agency to implement the said special order.
In keeping with the DENR efforts to regulate small-scale mining operations and curb the proliferation of illegal mining in the country, all local government units are also urged to help put an end the destroyer of the environment.
The NTFMC was created under Special Order 2018-53 issued by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu recently that would ensure the strict enforcement of existing mining laws, policies, rules and regulations along with other related environmental laws.
In an initial salvo of the operation, a series of raids have been carried out last week (started April 17) in illegal small-scale mining sites and mineral processing plants in the municipalities of Alegria and Placer, both in Surigao del Norte, that led to the confiscation of artisanal items, mining tools and equipment and the eventual closure of the mining areas.
The initial operation also resulted in the seizure of four dump trucks for transport of sand and gravel/quarry materials without corresponding permits along Lipata Road in Surigao City.
​There are 80 gold-rush areas located in Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and part in Agusan del Sur as well as five chromite-rich areas in Dinagat Islands which are all engaged in illegal small-scale mining activities, it was learned.
In Surigao del Sur, the sand and gravel and quarry operations there were recently ordered temporarily stopped by the provincial government to protect its environment surroundings while regulating properly ordinances, rules and regulations in said operations, it was also learned.