All mining activities within the city’s territorial jurisdiction, including small-scale mining and quarrying, would be effectively banned once a recently filed bill passes into law.
Baguio City Representative Mark filed House Bill (HB) 5619 which aims to declare the city a mining-free zone to address the growing environmental threats within Baguio.
All exploration permits, licenses, and small-scale mining contracts will be immediately revoked. Small-scale mining operations will be given a year to cease all their operations and conduct all rehabilitation and reforestation efforts of affected areas.
Around P500,000 to P5 million will be imposed as a fine for violators, as well as imprisonment of one to six years, as reported in a Sunstar article.
Go added that the city’s reputation for its natural scenery and heritage has become compromised due to the effects of mining activities on the city’s sustainability and environmental preservation efforts.
Former President Carlos Garcia implemented two mineral reservations in Baguio City, which excludes from the Baguio Townsite Reservation. a 380-hectare area in barangays Laokan Apugan, Atok Trail and Kias under Proclamation 414 s.1957, and 159 hectares of land covering barangays Mines View and Lucban through Proclamation 572 s.1959.
These proclamations will be repealed once the bill is implemented.
The lawmaker said that mining activities in these areas have been rampant since they were declared as mining reservation, however these areas are now heavily populated with inhabitants.
Sinkholes were also reported in these areas, making them geohazard areas that could endanger civilians and harm the city’s ecosystem.
Go concluded that the negative impacts on these activities outweigh the benefits its host community experience.
Baguio to be a mining-free zone
All mining activities within the city’s territorial jurisdiction, including small-scale mining and quarrying would be effectively banned once a recently filed bill passed into law.
Baguio City Representative Mark filed House Bill (HB) 5619 which aims to declare the city a mining-free zone to address the growing environmental threats within Baguio.
All exploration permits, licenses, and small-scale mining contracts will be immediately revoked. Small-scale mining operations will be given a year to cease all their operations and conduct all rehabilitation and reforestation efforts of affected areas.
Around P500,000 to P5 million will be imposed as a fine for violators, as well as imprisonment of one to six years.
Go added that the city’s reputation for its natural scenery and heritage has become compromised due to the effects of mining activities on the city’s sustainability and environmental preservation efforts.
Former President Carlos Garcia implemented two mineral reservations in Baguio City, which excludes the Baguio Townsite Reservation. a 380-hectare area in barangays Laokan Apugan, Atok Trail and Kias under Proclamation 414 s.1957, and 159 hectares of land covering barangays Mines View and Lucban through Proclamation 572 s.1959.
These proclamations will be repealed once the bill is implemented.
The lawmaker said that mining activities in these areas have been rampant since they were declared as mining reservation, however these areas are now heavily populated with inhabitants.
Sinkholes were also reported in these areas, making them geohazard areas that could endanger civilians and harm the city’s ecosystem.
Go concluded that the negative impacts on these activities outweigh the benefits its host community experience.
