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Iba, Zambales: Governor Amor Deloso yesterday said that he could not
do anything regarding the mining issue in the town of Sta. Cruz
despite the urgent appeal from local officials and residents to stop
mining operation in their small town.
Deloso said that Benguet Corporation has not
applied for a small mining permit with his office and that the
mining corporation has not paid local taxes to the province.
The Manila Times reported that hundreds of
residents along the shoreline and inner villages have complained
against the mining operation of the company, which has turned the
once green environment into a wasteland of barren soil.
Deloso said that he could not do anything since
Benguet Corporation has a Mineral Production-Sharing Agreement and
that it is not within his hands.
But some residents here appealed to the governor
to act on their complaint.
“Pwede ba naman wala siyang gawin eh sakop pa
ng Zambales ang Sta. Cruz, masisira ang aming lugar pag hindi sila
kumilos [How can he say he can’t do anything when Sta. Cruz is
very much a part of Zambales? The mining operation is out to ruin
our community and government needs to do something about it] ,” a
resident who asked not to be named said.
Benguet Corporation has started operations even
without a permit from the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR), local officials noted, adding that the mine sites
were located in areas that have been declared as tourism spots.
Sta. Cruz Mayor Chito Martin is urging the DENR
and other government agencies to step in and stop the operation of
the said mining company.
“Yan nga ang masama, wala siyang pakialam sa
issue pero ang pagbibigay niya ng permit kaliwa’t kanan at walang
coordination [That’s what’s wrong here, he says he doesn’t
care about the issue, yet he would approve permits to operate left
and right and without any coordination],” Marty in a text message
told The Manila Times.
“We are calling the attention of this mining
company and other government agencies to help us in resolving this
issue, before it is to late,” Marty said.
-- Anthony Bayarong
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