Mindoro extends mining moratorium

CALAPAN CITY: Anti-mining activists and environmentalists in Oriental Mindoro lauded the passage of a resolution before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan extending the mining moratorium for another 25 years for large-scale mining and 15 years for small-scale mining in the province.

Fr. Edwin Gariguez of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan, in a statement sent to The Manila Times on Monday, said that the mining moratorium which was first approved in 2002 for large-scale mining and 2013 for small-scale mining is a result of the public outcry from the people of Mindoro, who oppose destructive mining at critical watersheds in the province.