https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ |
| 'Progressive rehabilitation' underway in Leyte mining site Posted: 30 Mar 2021 05:29 PM PDT A MINING company in MacArthur, Leyte has started its rehabilitation program amid anti-mining sentiments in the town. Januar Ong, community relations officer of MacArthur Iron Sand Project Corp. (MIPC), said they were already done with the first phase of the rehabilitation, which involved the backfilling of the topsoil and pure sand with no iron ore content in the one-hectare mining field in Barangay Maya. "We are true to our commitment. We are going for progressive mining and rehabilitation. We are going to show that progressive rehabilitation is doable. This is part of our commitment to the landowner, to ensure that the land is productive at the minimum when we started the mining operation," Ong told reporters in Tacloban City. According to Ong, they have already plowed the land and put organic fertilizer while waiting for the right weather condition for the planting of vegetables. "The planting won't coincide with the rice planting season. We opted for ampalaya, monggo, and watermelon," said Ong. "We hope to harvest in three to four months. We will try if we can get an optimum production or we need soil improvement. We will also infuse agricultural technology," he said. According to the mining official, they have involved the landowner and coordinated with the Department of Agriculture. The management also constructed drainage and irrigation canals in the rehabilitated area. In MacArthur town alone, the MIPC has mining claims of about 300 hectares for three years. At present, the mining company has leased the seven-hectare rice land owned by Maya village chief Pepito Guimalan for their black sand extraction. The management leased the private land in the amount of P270,000 per hectare for two years. Amid criticisms from anti-mining groups, the MIPC management maintained they complied with the national government's necessary permits and tax payments. According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the MIPC has mining claims of 2,300 hectares in Leyte, covering the towns of MacArthur, Javier, and Abuyog. The mining company, which reportedly invested P500 million in their black sand operation, hired around 300 workers in MacArthur. The minerals will be shipped to China, according to the MIPC management. Black sand is a valuable component in the making of steel, concrete, jewelry, cosmetics, and other industrial products. (SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Northern Samar top cop warns illegal loggers Posted: 30 Mar 2021 05:26 PM PDT THE top police official in Northern Samar has issued a stern warning to illegal loggers in the province following the arrest of seven suspects and the confiscation of P872,500 worth of hot logs and conveyance in San Isidro, Northern Samar last week. "Paulit-ulit na akong nagbabala na kung hindi kayo hihinto sa illegal na pagtrotroso at pagkawasak ng ating yamang gubat ay siguradong may kalalagyan kayo. Hindi kami titigil ipatupad ang mga batas pang kalikasan at sa aming kampanya laban sa mga lumalapastangan sa ating kalikasan," warned Colonel Arnel Apud, director of Northern Samar Police Provincial Office. The police official also urged the public to report any illegal logging activities to authorities. On Friday, March 26, 2021, elements of San Isidro Municipal Police Station, led by Lieutenant Lyndon Dagalea, intercepted a total of 29 assorted dipterocarp species, 20 boat keels, and a motorized banca worth P400,000. Operatives caught the suspects in the act of transporting undocumented lumber products along the seawater of Barangay Balite, San Isidro. On March 23, police arrested seven suspects and seized 800 pieces of "lawaan" worth P239,999 in Bobon. Elements of Northern Samar Provincial Special Operation Group and Allen Municipal Police Station also apprehended a trailer truck loaded with P79,360 worth of sawn lumber in Allen port area on March 14. The anti-illegal logging operation in Allen came after the seizure of P117,000 worth of illegal lumber in San Isidro town. On March 12, Northern Samar police also confiscated 151 flitches of lawaan lumber worth P500,000 and loaded in a wing van from Bobon town bound to Legazpi City in Bicol region. The owners of the confiscated illegal lumber will face charges in violation of Presidential Decree 705, or the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines. (SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| You are subscribed to email updates from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
No comments:
Post a Comment