RDC, MIGEDC support Guimaras’ stand against large mining activities

JORDAN, Guimaras The province of Guimaras is now getting more support for its campaign not to allow large mining companies from exploring the island.

Guimaras Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava said the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) which is a collaboration of the chief executives of the municipalities of Oton, San Miguel, Sta. Barbara, Pavia and Leganes, Iloilo City and the province itself has passed a resolution supporting their stand.

Environment and Natural Resources regional executive director Lormelyn Claudio added that even the Regional Development Council (RDC) during its recent meeting had passed a resolution to upheld the opinion of the province that ‘there would be no mining even exploration in the island.

The RDC is the highest policy making body in Western Visayas.

“While under the mandate of the DENR there could be mining when the environmental impact assessment system would be undertaken but of course DENR would respect the opinion of all the stakeholders,” Claudio said.

Gov. Nava added that the province’s Lone District Rep. JC Rahman Nava will soon be filing a bill in Congress to declare Guimaras as an eco-agri tourist destination so that the island will no longer be considered as a site for mining activities.

On Sunday the provincial government started its provincewide advocacy by launching its ‘Spare Guimaras’ campaign following a series of preliminary briefings on the impact of large scale activities in several barangays in Nueva Valencia and its adjacent municipalities.

Nava explained that 65 percent of the province will be affected once the pending application for exploration for copper and gold will be granted.
“All the targeted areas for mining are watershed areas and will affect the Taklong Island Natural Marine Reserve (TINMAR). Considering a small island ecosystem if it will be damaged the whole island will be affected including Iloilo and Negros Occidental,” Nava said. (PNA)