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Daraga, Albay (October 20,2003)
- An
information dissemination of the proposed National Minerals Policy (NMP)
were recently undertaken by the Bicol regional office of the Mines and
Geosciences Bureau (MGB-V) at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay and
at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA-V) initiated radio program
“Ugnayan Sa Bicol” in Legazpi City as part of its continuing
Information, Communication, and Education (ICE) campaign in Bicol.
The first was a one-hour
presentation of the NMP to the honorable members of the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan of Albay on October 14 and the second on October 15 thru a
live interview from 10:00 am to 11:30 am over “Ugnayan Sa Bicol”, a
radio program of the Bicol Regional Directors Association (REDIRAS) and
the Regional Development Council-Regional Information Advocacy Committee
(RDC-RIAC) in close coordination with PIA-V and Radio Ng Bayan in Naga
and Virac Catanduanes. MGB-V Regional Director Reynulfo A.
Juan and Mining Environment and Safety Division (MESD) Chief Sulpicio B.
Bernardo III, alternately, discussed to the honorable members of SP
Albay the salient environmental provisions of R.A. 7942 or the
Philippine Mining Law of 1995 in connection with the four (4) policy
thrusts of the NMP, namely: 1) a competitive and prosperous minerals
industry; 2) protection and rehabilitation of the environment; 3)
promotion of social and community stability; and 4) preservation of
options for future generations. At the end of the presentations, RD Juan
answered queries on the
impact of Lafayette (Phils.) Inc., mining operations in Rapu-Rapu, Albay
and the Ibalong Resources and Development Corporation-Goodfound Cement
Corporation (IRDC-GCC) in the Municipality of Camalig and neighboring
municipality of Guinobatan, all in the Province of Albay and the alleged
quarrying in Kurangon Island in Bacacay, Albay. At the Ugnayan Sa Bicol radio
program, the topics discussed, were: 1) The NMP and its four (4) policy
thrusts, 2) The role of MGB; 3) R.A. 7942 and its impact in the mining
industry in Bicol; 4) The MRFC; 5) The MMT, its composition and role in
environmental protection and monitoring; 6) Treasure hunting and the
requisites required in securing a treasure hunting permit; 7)
Small-scale mining in relation with the Local Government Code; 8)
Geohazard assessment; 9) Geological survey; 10) Minerals prospecting;
11) Coastal survey; 12) Hydrological survey; and 13) The recent
launching of MGB-V’s website. On hand to assist RD Juan during the in-between program live questioning from the listening public were MESD Chief S.B. Bernardo, Mine Management Division (MMD) chief Ricardo P. Nacional and Geosciences OIC division chief Arnel F. Jusi. The foursome clarified and answered specific questions: On the alleged treasure hunting in Mt. Isarog, in Camarines Sur; Illegal diggings in the Caramoan Peninsula, Camarines Sur; and The alleged ill effect on the environment of the mining operations of the IRDC-GCC in Barangay Palanog and neighboring communities; and of Lafayette in Rapu-Rapu, Albay. LValdez |
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