The local government of South Cotabato has ordered the closure of eight mine tunnel sites in a T’boli town due to alleged illegal operations.
Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) environment management specialist Agnes Castanares said the move was based on Provincial Mining Regulatory Board’s (PMRB) decision.
Castanares said the tunnels are all within a declared Minahang Bayan site in Barangay Desawo, T’boli.
“The tunnels were operating without licenses and permits, and the ores were even processed on site,” she was quoted in a Philippine News Agency report.
Personnel from the PEMO’s mine and geosciences division, Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Region 12 and the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion led the closure operation with assistance from members of the Desawo Integrated Small-Scale Mining Association Inc. (DISSMAI).
Castanares said the PMRB approved at least 30 mine tunnels to be operated in the area, which is to be operated by DISSMAI.
She added that the eight tunnels continued to operate illegally despite warnings issued from the PMRB.
A small-scale mining contract was awarded to DISSMAI last year, which covers around 20 hectares of the Minahang Bayan site in Barangay Desawo.
South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. earlier intensified the management of small-scale mining operations as well as the closure of illegal mining activities in T’boli and other areas of the province.
Castanares said this is to ensure the implementation of mining policies and proper collection of mining-related charges.
At least P36 million has been generated by the provincial government from quarry and mining taxes, as of November, which surpassed 2018’s collection in the same period of the previous year by about P5 million.
