Thousands of miners in Benguet are hoping for the approval of their requested temporary mining permit to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) secretary Roy Cimatu.
Miners complaining of disrupted livelihood are asking DENR to allow them to resume mining activities, according to Loacan Itogon Pocket Miners Association (LIPMA) board member Daniel Pay-an.
Pay-an said the inadequate assistance and alternative jobs provided by the government don’t meet the need of mining workers affected by the government’s crackdown to the industry.
Last January 15, the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) and Benguet’s local government opened up for pocket mining a second Minahang Bayan measuring 64 hectares in Itogon.
However, some mining associations failed to submit contract applications to secure legal operations in the Minahang Bayan.
With the current situation, miners opt to have low-paying side jobs while waiting DENR’s decision whether to let them back to doing the mining work they are used to.
