Town in Guimaras passes resolution vs mining exploration

GUIMARAS ISLAND, Philippines - Still suffering from the effects of an oil spill, the town of Nueva Valencia in this island province passed Tuesday a resolution opposing an exploration project proposed by a giant mining company. Online news site The News Today reported Wednesday that Nueva Valencia town Mayor Alejandro Araneta would forward a copy of the resolution to the Environment Department. "The people have already voiced out their opposition and we will stand by it," the mayor said. Nueva Valencia was one of the areas hardest hit by the oil spill in 2006 after an oil tanker sank in rough seas off Guimaras Island. The town is home to the University of the Philippines-Visayas’ marine biological station and the 1,143-hectare Taklong Island National Marine Reserve. Araneta said that an overwhelming number of residents signed last week a position paper opposing the proposed mining exploration project. He said residents and environmental groups fear that the Fil-Asian Strategic Resources and Properties Corp. (FASRPC) project would pose a threat to their town, which is still recovering from the massive oil spill. Signature campaign is ongoing in the 20 villages of Nueva Valencia as well as in the four municipalities of the province, Araneta said. FASRPC, a subsidiary of the Australia-based Rusina Mining NL, has plans of conducting exploration for gold and copper deposits in a 2,400-hectare area covering nine of the 20 villages of Nueva Valencia. The villages covered by the exploration application are Napandong, Sto. Domingo, Lucmayan, San Roque, Salvacion, La Paz, Cabalagnan, Canhawan and Igdarapdap. The firm is also applying for a permit for mining exploration on a 621-hectare area on Pan De Azucar Island in Concepcion town in Iloilo. Each of the proposed exploration projects costs P13.26 million. Ed Coronel, the firm's vice president for corporate affairs, said they would continue to conduct "dialogs" with officials and residents opposing the project. He said exploration activities are "not intrusive" as it only entails taking water and rock samples from the site. "It is important that the people understand what exploration activities mean and the potential economic benefits (they get) if mineral deposits are found," he said. Coronel said the company will abide by the decision of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau on their application, but will respect the stand of the residents. "There's nothing we can do if the people are against it," he said. On the other hand, Araneta said the proposed exploration in his municipality covers at least 20 percent of the town's total land area. "Aside from the threats this will pose to our environment, this is also against the province's Comprehensive Land Use Plan," he said, adding the province’s development plans is anchored on agro-tourism industries.- GMANews.TV