Duterte orders DENR to probe illegal mining role in landslides

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday directed Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to probe the illegal mining activities which may have caused landslides during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

"I will direct here si Secretary Cimatu to look into illegal mining," Duterte said during the situation briefing in Cagayan amid the massive flooding experienced in the province as well as in Isabela following the typhoon.

According to Duterte, widespread mining in the area could have loosened the soil, increasing the chances of landslides, especially during heavy rainfalls.

"Kapag maraming butas, maraming tubig na pumapasok sa loob ng lupa. That's why, kapag ano... landslide. It loosens the soil. So kaya ang mining, maraming butas, yan ang i-control mo," he said.

"Mag-inventory ka na lang Roy. Kasi sigurado yan, kapag marami nang butas. Maraming tubig ang papasok sa lupa then it loosens the soil," he told Cimatu.

Cimatu, in response, said he received a report that at least 10 individuals died due to landslides during the typhoon.

He also presented a hazard map in which he pointed out that the areas they identified as hazard prone are the ones where landslides and flooding happened.

"There's no mining area given permit except small-scale mining, this is illegal one," Cimatu said.

"So illegal mining itong mga lugar na namatay so we have filed cases already and cease and desist order for these people. So ito na-address na natin," he added.

Earlier, the President also said he would call for an investigation into the alleged quarrying operations which residents of Guinobatan, Albay complained of after the province was hit by Super Typhoon Rolly.

Cimatu had suspended quarrying operations in Guinobatan following the damage brought by Super Typhoon Rolly. He said floodwaters traveled down the slope of Mayon Volcano and reached three rivers where 11 quarrying operations were ongoing.

But Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara appealed against the suspension of quarrying operations in the province, saying they would run out of aggregates for reconstruction and rehabilitation if it happens.

He also urged the national government to first investigate the matter before suspending quarrying operations in the province. — DVM, GMA News