The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has stated that the mining and export operations of a Chinese firm in Eastern Samar’s Homonhon island have no violations.
Techiron Resources Inc. has complied with quarantine requirements and the government’s order to continue its operations, DENR was quoted in a report.
On April 4, Governor Ben Evardone urged national government officials, as well as the police and coast guard to stop the entry of a Chinese vessel scheduled to load 7,000 metric tons of chromite in the island.
This resulted in the DENR’s suspension of mining operations in the area to “make sure that everything is in order.” However, the department lifted the suspension days later.
“After thorough investigation and the mining company secured all the necessary quarantine certificates, the DENR had no choice but to lift the suspension,” Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units Concerns Benny Antiporda was quoted in the CNN Philippines report.
Antiporda claimed that the crew did not make contact with anyone from the island as the vessel was anchored 1.5 kilometers away.
In addition, the DENR denied that mining activities are being continued in secret during the quarantine period.
The Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases earlier allowed the passage of cargo shipments, despite the ongoing enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
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