Reyes evasive on controversial mining project in N. Vizcaya

Inquirer
Last updated 06:55am (Mla time) 08/14/2006

Published on page A21 of the August 14, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA -- Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes on Tuesday evaded questions on the controversy hounding the planned mining project by an Australian firm in Kasibu town.

In a press conference here, Reyes declined to answer reporters’ questions on unresolved issues in the proposed Didipio gold-copper project -- its rejection by tribal communities and the border dispute between Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces.

The Didipio project is being proposed by Australasian Philippine Mining Inc. (APMI), which is among the 23 ventures that the Arroyo administration tagged as priority projects in the mining sector.

Endorsement

Reyes was asked why the government continued to push APMI’s operations despite the company’s failure to obtain the endorsement by local communities, a requirement in its environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

The area was also being contested by Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, in apparent anticipation of the taxes and other revenues that the host province would get from the planned mining operations.

Local anti-mining advocates lamented Reyes’ hesitation to address the issues, saying it was an indication that he was not aware of the controversies surrounding the project.

“As the highest official of the DENR, everybody expects him to know all these issues. This added to our amazement when a high-ranking DENR official even asked where Didipio is,” said Sr. Maria Eden Orlino, directress of the Diocesan Social Action Commission, a Church-based non-government organization.

Reyes, however, asked APMI board chair Jose Leviste and DENR regional director Clarence Baguilat to answer the reporters’ questions.

Rejected

Leviste said the project had been earlier endorsed by a bloc of village officials, but the decision was overturned by a new set of Didipio officials, most of whom are opposing the operations of the company.

The project’s ECC says it must obtain at least two endorsements from village, town or provincial councils.

Last year, the APMI project was rejected by the barangay council of Didipio and the municipal council of Kasibu.

While admitting that a boundary dispute between Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino has remained an issue, Baguilat said the matter would be left to the two provinces to resolve.

“[Settling boundary disputes] is not part of our work,” he said.
Reyes on Tuesday led the launching of the DENR’s Green Philippine Highways at the Nueva Vizcaya State University here. The project is aimed at re-greening the roadsides of about 2,180 km of the country’s national highways. Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.