ENRO Orders Stoppage to Mining Opertion in Davao Or Barangay

City of Mati, Davao Oriental – The Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) issued a stoppage order in the mining activity in Brgy. San Isidro, municipality of Lupon, Davao Oriental.
The stoppage order is in response to a petition filed by Benedictine for Peace-Mati Chapter, Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Agriculture and Dev’t (FASADA), Nagkahiusang Kababaihan alang sa Kalinaw ug Kalambuan (NKKK), Mangingisda, Mag-uuma alang sa Kalambuan (MMK), to put an end to the mining activity in the said area owned by a certain “Dodong Pancho”.
In the stoppage order, the ENRO reiterated the necessity for priority concern to the directive, so as to harmonize the responsible extraction of natural resources with the local socio economic activities.
In their petition, the petitioners asked for unity and cooperation to take care and save Mother Earth as mankind has already experienced the ill effects of being indifferent with the Climate Change that has also brought global warming and illness to human beings and animals. And the best explanation the petitioners could give to justify their move is the aftermath of super typhoon Pablo.
Moreover, the group asked for an immediate inspection by the Prov’l Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and other concerned agencies to the mining site.
Mining site is a water shed area and as such, there is a need to protect the area from any hazardous activity. A barangay resolution (Res. No. 14, series of 2008) has clearly declared Brgy. San Isidro “no” stand to mining.
Being a water shed area, the petitioners are oncerned of the aftermath should the small scale manganese operation continue in the area.
The group also requested for an alternative livelihood for the residents for food security, with the emphasis that the environment must be preserved and protected, just like the ultimate goal of the “Million Trees Program” of Governor Corazon Malanyaon.
The petition was dated August 29, 2013, and the stoppage order was issued September 3, 2013.

By: Ms. Neela G. Duallo