1,300 residents of two barangays in Surigao City, along with members of the Mamanwa tribe, have signed a petition opposing large-scale illegal mining activities in their communities.
Inquirer reported that in a joint plea addressed to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the petitioners urged immediate action against Palau Pacific Partners, claiming their once-peaceful area has been devastated by unlawful mining operations.
The residents said that their place used to be peaceful until large-scale illegal mining activities started ruining their community, detailing how Chinese nationals and Filipino representatives began purchasing land in December 2023.
Additionally, residents reported 24/7 excavation activities beginning in January 2024, allegedly for gold mining, and accused the company of using fraudulent permits to disguise the operation as a legitimate quarry.
The petitioners asserted that the mining activities violated environmental laws, lacked the necessary permits, and proceeded without public consultation or consent.
The petition listed laws the mining activities allegedly violated, including the Philippine Mining Act, Indigenous People’s Rights Act, Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act, among others.
During a House committee hearing on the DENR’s budget last August, concerns over illegal quarrying in Surigao del Norte were raised, with the agency reporting that 30 quarry operators had been monitored.
Of these, 10 operators lacked Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC), while three were cited for violations related to water discharge permits and operational compliance.
The DENR recommended stricter monitoring by provincial and local government units and proposed issuing a Cease and Desist Order to halt all mining activities in the affected quarry area.
