DAVAO CITY – The provincial government of Davao Oriental has withdrawn support for nickel mining operations in the Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary Range after mining companies allegedly committed several violations.

In a resolution passed by the provincial council on Jan. 28 signed by Gov. Nelson Dayanghirang on Feb. 3, the provincial board alleged that mining firms violated their environmental permits.

Eleven of 14 board members voted to pass the resolution that also expressed withdrawal of all endorsements and social acceptability granted to Asiaticus Mining Corp. (Amcor). Three provincial council members were absent during the session.

Amcor manages Austral-Asia Link Mining Corp. (AALMC) and Hallmark Mining Corp. that hold Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) permits.

The provincial board cited a report from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in the City of Mati showing that they have only achieved approximately 13.23 percent and 8.03 percent compliance with required tree replacement obligation.

“Whereas, subsequent inspections, committee hearings, and official compliance reports have established material environmental non-compliance, including gross backlogs in mandatory tree replacement obligations, restricted inspection access, obstruction of provincial infrastructure projects, and conduct inconsistent with good-faith regulatory cooperation,” the resolution said.

The resolution amended Resolution No. 14-76-03-2015 passed in 2015 that endorsed the mining firm’s Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility and tree-cutting permit. It said that the endorsement was issued to the mining firms on the premise that mining projects would strictly comply with environmental laws, permit conditions, infrastructure coordination requirements, and provincial oversight mechanisms.

With the approval of Resolution 18-24-01-26, the provincial government is revoking and cancelling all the endorsements and permits issued to the mining firm.

Known as the Pujada Nickel Project, each MPSA covers 5,000 hectares of mining site in the coastal Barangay Macambol in the City of Mati.

The provincial board also recommended before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) the immediate suspension and termination of permits of the mining operation.

As the mining site sits between two protected areas – Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site and Pujada Bay – the provincial board said that it requires heightened diligence, precaution, and regulatory compliance.

With an area of 26,652 hectares, Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary Range straddles the towns of Gov. Generoso and San Isidro and City of Mati. About 7,000 hectares have been declared a protected area under the Republic Act 9303 in 2004.

Pujada Bay is a declared protected seascape Republic Act No. 11038 or the expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act.

The provincial government Committee on Environment and Natural Resources found out that mining firms have denied access and passage to the Provincial Engineering Office on portions of the MaCaLuLa Road (Macambol-Cabuaya-Luban-Lanca Road) alignment.

It added that the mining operations hampered the implementation of a critical provincial road project intended to directly connect the City of Mati and the municipality of Gov. Generoso.

“It was later established during the course of the committee's inquiry that sections of the provincial road were removed, altered, and effectively converted into a stockyard or operational area of the mining companies, to the prejudice of public infrastructure, inter-local connectivity, and the province's development objectives.”

The provincial government said their actions are justified under Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.

They said that the law empowers them to promote the general welfare, protect the environment, regulate activities affecting territorial jurisdiction, and withdraw local endorsement when public interest requires.

Environmentalists have repeatedly expressed concern on ongoing mining operations that sit on the periphery of the protected area of the mountain range.

Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary Range is a known home to the critically endangered Philippine Eagle as well as many other endemic flora and fauna species.

The mining firm has yet to release a statement as of posting time.