Mayor Nathan Electona of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental Wednesday said the municipal government is doing its best to stop the illegal mining activities in Barangay San Francisco of that southern town.
Mayor Electona, however, lamented that the small-scale mining activities for perceived gold in Tarug and Bantolino in Barangay San Francisco appear to be “unstoppable” despite interventions by different authorities.
Earlier, the provincial government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB) and the Sta. Catalina local government unit (LGU) had separately ordered the stoppage of the purported gold-mining activities there.
Prior to this, Barangay Catipon in the adjacent town of Siaton was also the subject of a closure order after illegal mining activities were discovered in the hinterland village.
According to Mayor Electona, he believes that setting up a detachment of the Philippine Army in the area would deter the persistence of the mining activities in the remote areas of Barangay San Francisco.
Electona further disclosed that those engaged in the illegal mining operations there are seemingly “professionals” from Mindanao and Luzon who are used to doing this type of activity.
He describes the situation at the gold mines as a “cat-and-mouse” game where these people would only surface when the authorities are not around.
On the plan to declare these areas as “Minahan ng Bayan” under the supervision of the MGB, Electona said it is a good idea that the government can regulate the mining activities there.
At the same time, the barangay, the municipality and the province will also be receiving royalty taxes if this pans out, he added.
But the proposal to allow the small-scale miners to be part of the government’s people’s mining sites or Minahan ng Bayan must go through the right process, Electona stressed.
However, he expressed fears that the water system in Sta. Catalina will be affected in the event the Minahan ng Bayan will be realized.
Mayor Electona said that town officials are not in favor of the Minahan ng Bayan as it would be destructive to the environment.
The LGUӼs target is for the water system in San Francisco to supply water not only to that barangay but to other areas like San Pedro and even Manalongon.
Personally, the Sta. Catalina mayor says he would rather have a total ban on mining in his town.
On the reported confiscation of mining equipment at the mining sites, Electona said these are with the DENR custody. (PNA)
