|
By Likha C. Cuevas-Miel Reporter
Benguet Corp. has denied
allegations of illegal mining activities and “causing
environmental destruction” within its 1,400-hectare nickel
property in Zambales.
In a statement to the Philippine
Stock Exchange, the mining firm said the newspaper reports on
alleged complaints of communities within its tenement in Sta. Cruz
town were “irresponsible” since Benguet has been fully compliant
with mining laws and environmental regulations” prior to
conducting any exploration and subsequent initial mining.
Last week, Sta. Cruz Mayor
Luisito Marty complained to the media that the activities of Benguet
are environmentally disruptive as its mining operations hamper water
flow causing streams and rivers to dry up. The town official also
claimed that Benguet did not have proper permits from the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources in areas declared as tourism
spots.
Benguet denied the claims, saying
it has not conducted any mining activity within the 20-hectare area
straddling the villages of Guisguis and Lomboy.
Lawyer Rey Mendoza, Benguet legal
counsel, told The Manila Times in a phone interview that there was a
“miscommunication” between the company and the communities, and
that the company was “just stabilizing” the area that was
illegally mined by A3 UNA to prevent further soil erosion.
Last year, Benguet filed a
criminal case against A3 UNA, which is registered with the
government as a small-scale mining operator, for theft of mineral
ore. The case is still pending.
Benguet disclosed to the PSE that
while it is conducting exploration activities such as drilling and
test pits, it has already filed a partial declaration of mining
feasibility and secured an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)
over the 20-hectare portion of the total area under its mineral
production sharing area.
“But up to this date, it has
not yet started production because it is still waiting for
additional permits, which it expects to receive soon. The company is
proceeding cautiously to avoid any violations of DENR rules because
there are certain groups with adverse mining interests in the
province that are watching its operation,” the mining firm said.
Acting on the environmental
destruction complaint filed by the village captain of Lomboy,
officials from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau investigated the
alleged environmental damage and found that the complaint was
“baseless” upon interviewing residents and local officials of
the two villages.
Benguet’s disclosure read:
“Ongoing works by BC inside the MPSA are confined to road
construction which is covered by the road right-of-way permit issued
by DENR and slope stabilization and the construction of silt ponds
as part of pollution control measures under the ECC to prevent
erosion and siltation in the lower areas. In the regular course of
earth moving activities, incidental ore was recovered which the
company has gathered into a few ore stockpile for metallurgical
testing. However, as confirmed by the MGB investigators, no actual
mining or hauling of ore has yet been done by BC.”
|
