Baguio City Representative Mark Go assured that there will be hearings over the proposed House Bill (HB) No. 5619 which aims to make Baguio a mining-free zone.
Go vowed to create a solution that will address the small-scale mining issue in the city, while also benefiting the local pocket miners with the protection of the environment still in mind, as reported in a Manila Bulletin article.
Go had a meeting with some leaders of local small-scale mining associations on Friday where he urged local pocket miners to practice responsible mining for the good of the city and its residents.
Present during the meeting were Leoncio Na-oy of the Baguio Federation of Small-Scale Gold Miners Inc. (BFSSGM), also the group’s representative to the City Mining Regulatory Board (CMRB), Neri Reynold Fangloy, president of Batawel Small-Scale Mining Association (Atok Trail) and Butch Cuilan Uabac ,Camp 7, Kennon road.
City Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan was also in the meeting, as well as officer-in-charge of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB- Cordillera) Faye Apil.
Go suggested to MGB the creation of a timeline to address the issue, including amendments and courses of actions.
He also appealed to the bureau to create a list of areas that are feasible for mining activities in the city.
Apil said MGB is ready to submit to the office, including the Technical Working Group (TWG) report related to HB No. 5619.
Meanwhile, Olowan urged MGB to focus on regulating instead of closing small-scale mining operations in the City.
Na-oy also noted that Emerald Small-Scale Mining Association (Kias-PMA) has been regularly conducting environmental , health and safety programs for years.
He added that the small-scale mining community doesn’t mind being taxed as it also aims to be legalized.
Meanwhile, Fangloy informed Go that Batawel Small-Scale Mining Association (Atok Trail) had come up with an alternative source of livelihood, which is an aquaculture project.
“I firmly believe that farming and mining (small-scale) could exist together,” said Fangloy
