By Kit Bagaipo, the Bohol Chronicle
After having been accused of cornering all claims of mining sites in the province,
Cebu-based businessman Domingo Chua finally breaks his silence to belie allegations of monopoly.
In a press conference last Thursday, Chua showed proof that he obtained mining rights lawfully and that there is no truth to reports that he owns two-thirds of mineral extraction claims in the province.
In fact, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) regional director Roger de Dios backed Chua's statement during the monthly "Alarma", a radio forum of the Bohol Tri-Media Association (BTMA) on Thursday.
De Dios said that the total area of Chua's mineral exploration permits covers just 22.03 percent, or a land area of 25,971 hectares.
"It is not true that Chua has dominated mining claims here and that Boholano small-scale miners are being deprived in their applications for mining permits," De Dios disclosed.
Some provincial officials have complained the way mining applications are being handled by MGB which supposedly give preference to the Cebu businessman.
This even caught the attention of Sec. Jose Atienza of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) during his visit here last week, vowing to scrutinize the alleged mining monopoly.
De Dios revealed that small-scale mining permits in the province comprise 77.33 percent, or a total land area of 91,153 hectares.
"All mineral lands is free to all whoever wants to apply," he said.
The MGB official explained that Chua's claimed mineral-rich sites have become a hot issue as some local officials also want to venture into mining the areas.
"We issued the permit to Chua because he applied for it first and there is no hindrance for his claims as long as requirements under the law are complied with," De Dios added.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is crafting the Bohol Mining Code for the regulation of small-scale mineral extraction in the province with the provincial government issuing permits to applicants.
No comments:
Post a Comment