The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reportedly suspended the operations against small-scale mining in Itogon, Benguet.
Rappler reported Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu ordered the suspension of Task Force Itogon which was in charge of cracking down on small-scale mining operations in the area.
The environment chief will also reportedly meet with small-scale miners after the dry-run opening of Boracay Island.
“Yes, I’ll talk to them and hope to open the minahang bayan to legitimize their small-scale mining,” Cimatu was quoted in the report as saying.
The suspension came after the closure of 539 mining tunnels in Itogon in just two days.
Sunstar.com reported DENR-Cordillera Director Ralph Pablo said the task force already cordoned at least 335 ball mills, seized 33 kilograms of cyanide, and obtained 64,214 sacks of estimated mineral ore.
“Teams deployed as part of the Operation Itogon have closed active tunnels with signage of mine closure put up and yellow line cordoned in the entry points. This is a different operation as compared to last February, because of the nature of the area which is highly susceptible to landslide, we did not blast any adits,” Pablo said in the report.
The DENR ordered a temporary halt on small-scale mining operations in the province last month. This after dozens of small-scale miners and their families were killed due to landslides triggered by Typhoon Ompong on September 15.
The temporary suspension is believed to have affected thousands of small-scale miners in the area, where most residents depend on mining.
