The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 11 (MGB-11), with the aid of local government units (LGUs) in the region, still implement strict monitoring of small-scale illegal miners acknowledging that the issue is both an enforcement and a social issue.
MGB-11 Regional Director Jasper Alberto Lascano said in a SunStar.com report that “illegal mining is not just an issue of enforcement, it is also a social issue.” The agency, according to him, understands small-scale miners especially those operating illegitimately.
“People engage in illegal activities not just because they want to but because they want to earn a living. The approach for this is holistic; it cannot be done alone by one agency,” he added.
LGUs regulate small-scale miners with MGB-11 coordinating with them, having a more rounded approach in addressing the issue in the region, according to Lascano.
The MGB-11 chief said they issued a few cease-and-desist orders to illegal mining activities to prevent further damage to the environment and the public.
Meanwhile, present active operations of Holcim Philippines and Apex Mining Corporation, large-scale mining companies in Davao Region, have been practicing responsible mining activities while also providing social development support to as many people as possible.
Lascano explained how mining is just as temporary as land use, assuring that miners are following the law and even go beyond what is expected of them. These responsible miners, he added, are required to conduct environmental protection programs for the areas where their mining activities are located.
These loads of requirements, full program creations, and mining project feasibility studies that companies need to go through before getting approval are ways to make sure that mining firms do not create further hazard to the residents of the region.
Lascano said these steps and measures are part of the mandates of President Rodrigo Duterte and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 11 to ensure responsible mining in the said region.
