The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personnel responsible for the supervision of the loading operation from Homonhon Island have allegedly left their posts, leaving the Chinese-manned export operation in the island unattended.
This according to Eastern Samar Governor Ben P. Evardone, adding that the DENR left the Chinese crew and their local counterparts on their own.
Evardone added that “lockdown” is currently implemented in Eastern Samar, and its quarantine protocols have been violated, according to a report.
According to the quarantine policy, all foreign nationals coming from a COVID-infected country, such as China should go through 14-day quarantine.
However, the solon claimed this did not happen, even with the Chinese-manned vessel docked at a mining port in Homonhon Island in the town of Guiuan.
He expressed dismay at DENR’s approval to resume Techiron Resources Inc.’s operations which he said set aside the welfare of the people in the island.
He added that the conditions set by the DENR-8 and DENR Central Office were not observed by the mining firm.
“I’ve received reports that one day or two days after the DENR allowed the loading operation to resume, the field personnel of the DENR tasked to monitor the crew abandoned the area,” Evardone lamented.
The governor said the DENR staff left early dawn on April 15 through a small boat docked at the pier.
“How can we be sure that the necessary health protocols, which the DENR itself has put in place, are observed when the personnel abandoned their posts?” he asked.
Evardone added that the violation of the quarantine protocols poses a huge threat to the residents of the island.
Earlier, Evardone led the appeal against the loading of chromite ore operations in Homonhon Island, Guiuan town.
As a response to the appeal, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the DENR had suspended the Mineral Ore Permit it issued to island-based mining company, but the suspension was lifted eight days later as a response to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases directive that export-oriented businesses should not be hampered.
“After thorough investigation and the mining company secured all the necessary quarantine certificates, the DENR had no choice but to lift the suspension,” the DENR said in a statement as quoted by the Business Mirror.
