Farmers well compensated by mining firm, says local exec

NARRA, Palawan – Rice farmers leasing their lands to a mining operation have been rewarded well to ensure the sustenance of a decent living, according to Mayor Lucena Dimaala. Dimaala said Platinum Group Metals Corp. (PGMC) has compensated the farmers by doubling the rice subsidies from 30 to 40 sacks of palay per harvest to 60 to 80 sacks per farmer.

She said each farmer has even received a 50-percent advanced compensation from PGMC.

"Palay output was low even before the mining operation," Dimaala said as she vowed to look after the welfare of the farmers and the protection of the area.

She gave the assurance that rehabilitation is being undertaken before, during and after the operation to benefit farmers.

She guaranteed a responsible mining opeation in her municipality.

Soil samplings undergo periodic laboratory tests to check if the soil is still appropriate for farming.

Dimaala said farmers are given the opportunity to go back and till their lands after the mining operation in the next two years.

She, along with Barangay San Isidro chairwoman Betty Ignacio, visited the mine site to scrutinize closely the silt ponds put up by PGMC to prevent laterites from spilling over to the river system.

Chairman Guillermo Estabillo Jr. of the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board said PGMC has complied with all conditions stipulated in the mining permits issued by the provincial government of Palawan.

In 2003, the provincial government issued two small-scale mining permits to PGMC and another two permits to Olympic for a period of two years.

The permits allowed PGMC to extract at least 50,000 metric tons of ore per year, or 100,000 metric tons in a span of two years.

Olympic and PGMC entered into an operating agreement that gave way to PGMC to assume Olympic’s extraction of 50,000 metric tons of ore per year, or 100,000 metric tons in two years.

A two-year extension was granted to PGMC and Olympic.

Estabillo said PGMC is extracting ore within its limit stipulated in the small-scale mining permits.

He said PGMC was able to satisfy a series of public consultations participated in by all sectors and pass the stringent conditions of the regulatory board.

A two-year extension was granted to PGMC.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Horacio Ramos said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is fair in enforcing the law against mining firms.

He said records show that DENR’s actions on PGMC were based on the existing rules and regulations, and were not influenced by anyone.

"PGMC, on the other, is operating by virtue of the small-scale mining permit issued by the provincial governor. It is thus unfair to drag the name of Secretary Angelo Reyes involving a permit issued by the local government," he said.