Mining firms interested in Davao City, mayor says

Thursday, September 22, 2011

DESPITE her firm stand against mining operations in Davao City, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte on Wednesday admitted that several mining investors are still interested in putting up mine operations here.

But, Duterte

said the most the city can allow is quarrying for as long as necessary permits required by the Department Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Davao Region are present.

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"Lahi ang quarry operations sa mining, ang quarry gina allow sa city basta naay permit (Quarry operation is different from mining, the city allows quarry for as long as it has permits)," Duterte said.

In her State of the City Address (Soca) Tuesday afternoon, Duterte reiterated her strong opposition to mining operations particularly in Paquibato and Marilog districts.

"I have already declared that mining is out of the question as it will bring more problems than solutions and we can learn a lot just by a cursory examination of local government units (LGUs) with mining areas," she said in her Soca drawing the loudest applause in her 40-minute speech.

Duterte said she already told Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and the MGB to keep mining out of Davao City.

Instead of allowing mining investments, the city instead focuses on agro-forestry, agri-fisheries, and agri-tourism.

She said the City Government, through the City Agriculture Office (CAO), has already intensified its agro-forestry projects and programs by establishing satellite nurseries in the districts of Marilog, Calinan and Baguio.

The benefits from these programs will far outweigh what mining can offer, especially when the destruction to the environment by mining is taken into account. (JOP)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on September 22, 2011.

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