DAVAO CITY – The Gov. Generoso Business Club Inc. has chided the municipal council of Gov. Generoso town, Davao Oriental province for passing an ordinance that will allow responsible mining operations in the area.

FISHING boats dock on the coast of  Barangay Montserrat, a known fishing village in Gov. Generoso, Davao Oriental. Popularly known is Sigaboy, Gov. Generoso is a known source of fish in the Davao region. (Keith Bacongco)

In a statement, the GGBC criticized the Sangguniang Bayan for the ordinance that showed not only their utter lack of understanding of the impact against the environment but also an act of disrespect to the people whose interests they have sworn to uphold and protect.

“We know what you did and by that you shall be held accountable in due time. The illusion of development through mining is a dangerous notion that we are not willing to take. We cannot, in all good conscience, allow the destruction of our environment in exchange for temporal development,” they added.

The municipal council on Jan. 21 passed an ordinance that repealed a 2022 ordinance that bans mining in the coastal town except for quarrying operations.

The repeal sparked debate over social media between some local government officials and mining oppositors who are wary of the possible impact to the environment and livelihood of the people. 

Mayor Juanito Inojales defended the ordinance. Inojales said that the repeal does not actually mean that mining firms could operate immediately.

Inojales said that the ordinance was passed to provide proper guidelines to mining companies, among them TQGT Mineral Resource Corp., that hold active mining permit in conducting exploration activities. 

He added that the local government could stop TQGT Mineral from extracting samples  since their exploration permit will expire in 2026.

TGQT Mineral has an exploration permit since 2013 for nickel laterite project covering at least 4,000 hectares in Barangays Tiblawan, Surop, Pundaguitan, and Tagabebe.

The  Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Davao said that the company has target commodities that include copper and nickel. 

The mining tenement sits on the periphery of Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization heritage site. 

The GGBC appealed to Inojales to veto the ordinance as the environment should not be sacrificed in the name of progress. 

“As a general rule, all ordinances to be passed will always be sent to your office for approval and disapproval. As you know, the veto power is the power to stop or refuse to accept an official action wherein you have the authority to veto this proposed ordinance in your capacity as the local chief executive,” said Mia Adlawan, GGBC initiator.  

Adlawan added that the town’s economy could still thrive even without mining due to vast potential in agriculture and tourism.  “I respect your ground that the mining investors would greatly contribute to the economic status of Gov. Generoso. However, have you considered the environmental effect that it would cause?”

Gov. Generoso, a second-class municipality also known as Sigaboy,  sits on the foot of the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary on the Davao Oriental peninsula.

Home to about 60,000 people,  it is one of the popular tourist destinations in the region due to its beaches as well as a known source of different marine products. Majority of its population depend on fishing and agriculture.

MGB records said only TQGT Mineral Resource Corp. holds an active exploration permit while  five other companies have pending application for exploration permits on the periphery of the declared protected area of the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary.

All mining firms are eyeing to mine chromite and nickel in the area.