Two Oriental Mindoro congressmen have pushed measures to stop the entry of companies that may be contracted to conduct large-scale mining in Mindoro.
MOUNT Halcon, the highest mountain in Mindoro. (Mountains PH)
Rep. Arnan C. Panaligan of the first district said he will refile House Bill 3891 that he introduced in 2022 declaring the entire Mindoro Island as a no-mining area.
Rep. Alfonso V. Umali Jr. of the second district said House Bill 6219 he filed on Nov. 21, 2022 is still pending in Congress.
Under HB 3891, all forms of mining, including block sand mining, armor rocks mining, and mineral extraction will not be allowed in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro.
HB 6219 protects the environment and promotes sustainable development on the island.
Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito A. Dolor urged the two congressmen to file a bill declaring Mount Halcon as a national park under the National Integrated Protection Area System (NIPAS).
Dolor sought the help of his allies in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by outgoing Vice Gov. Ejay L. Falcon to pass a resolution echoing his request to the two congressmen.
In a letter to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan dated May 19, Dolor requested the provincial board to pass a resolution requesting Panaligan and Umali to jointly author and sponsor a bill declaring Mount Halcon, the highest mountain in Mindoro at 8,583 feet above sea level, as a national park and the Aglubang and Ibulo Rivers as watershed reservations under NIPAS.
Dolor said Mount Halcon is an ecologically significant mountain range that has rich biodiversity and critically endangered species like the Tamaraw, rare birds, and plants.
The Aglubang and Ibulo Rivers that originate from the thickly forested slopes of the mountain are essential for agriculture and domestic uses.
Dolor said there is still no law declaring Mount Halcon and the two rivers as protected areas, a situation which exposed them to various environmental threats such as deforestation, unregulated development, mining and resource extraction, and pollution.