LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan wants the concerned committees of the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry into the reasons behind the order suspending and closing the operation of two large-scale mining companies in the province pursuant to the mine audit conducted by the environment department.
The three-term lawmaker claimed it seems the grounds used by the environment department in ordering the suspension and closing the operation of the Mankayan-based Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMC) and the Itogon-based Benguet Corporation (BC) seem not to be sufficient because there are more reasons that should have warranted the closure of the companies.
“We are not satisfied with the results of the mine audit because there were other factors that were not factored and considered by the audit team in coming out with its recommendations that could have properly guided Environment Secretary Gina Lopez in deciding what would be the best for the operation of the companies,” Cosalan stressed.
In the case of Lepanto, Cosalan noted the audit team failed to consider the sinking problem in Colalo that is allegedly traced to the operation of the mines in Colalo, the sinking problem in Poblacion, the sinking, and other issues being raised by affected residents in Sapid, among other related issues.
On the other hand, he pointed out there is a question on the closure order issued to Benguet Corporation because it failed to detail which among the company’s operation will be affected.
Further, he argued that the large-scale mining operation of BC already stopped over two decades ago, thus, the closure order failed to specify whether it will order the stoppage of the small-scale mining operations within the company’s Acupan contract mining.
According to him, he is sure that other mining companies in the country are similarly situated thus it is important to initiate the congressional inquiry to ascertain the veracity of the mine audit reports that could have better informed environment officials in making their decisions for the closure of the 12 mining companies.
The lawmaker claimed it is important to put things in order relative to the results of the mine audit and the suspension and closure orders issued by Secretary Lopez to avoid doubts about the government’s campaign against destructive extractive mineral industries operating in the various parts of the archipelago.
Cosalan expressed support to the government’s campaign against the massive destruction of the environment caused mining companies but mechanisms must have to be put in place to prevent the campaign from being questioned as well as prevent the country’s economy from being compromised by depriving the people of guaranteed employment opportunities and sources of livelihood.
He revealed there is merit to the conduct of a congressional inquiry because there seems to have been an abuse of power on the part of the mine audit team and concerned environment officials relative to their incomplete reports on the operation of mining companies in the country.
By HENT
