Mining firm: Vizcaya caves will be spared

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — An Australian mining firm assured the public yesterday that the Alayan cave system in Kasibu town will not be ruined by its mining operations, contrary to forecasts made by local environmental groups.

"Destroying a geological wonder and potential tourist destination like the Alayan caves system is not in our program," Australasian Philippines Mining Inc. (APMI) chairman Joey Leviste said.

The cave network is known for its colorful stalactites and stalagmites, which other caves in the Philippines do not have.

Leviste issued the statement as its $117-million gold-copper mining project, which is about 15 kilometers from the cave system, is expected to operate full swing this year.

The cave system is located in Barangay Capisaan while the mining project is in Barangay Didipio in the same town.

"Our corporate commitment to the people of Nueva Vizcaya to help preserve, conserve and promote the province’s eco-tourism attraction remains in position. We reiterate the same commitment as a partner in the tourism development and protection of these natural wonders," Leviste said.

He stressed that the areas where the cave systems are have been excluded from those designated for exploration and mining-related activities.

"However, we cannot just relinquish it as a part of the Financial Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) to prevent the entry of other groups who may want to explore the area. We can’t guarantee that other interested groups, after we released it, employ the same protective measures we practice," Leviste said.

Didipio project development manager Arnel Arrojo said their operation is calendared to operate for one and a half decades and that their company would not "sacrifice a multimillion-dollar investment by causing unnecessary destruction to a tightly watched national treasure like Alayan." 

"If mountaineers, cavers and other environmentalist groups strongly advocate for the protection of the caves, we in the mining group do not only speak for protection but technically apply the correct scientific manner of preserving our environment and natural resources for sustainable development and not just for fun,’’ he said.

Arrojo said their office is always open to any dialogue "for us to be able to keep friendly ties in keeping the beautiful caves pristine."

Arrojo said that even during the four-year suspension of their exploration activities, the company continued paying the occupational tax to the towns covered by the exploration area.

At the start of the exploration in 1994, APMI used to pay P10 per hectare on its original 37,000-hectare exploration area.

With only 21,465 hectares of exploration area remaining, APMI pays P50 per hectare, while the mining firm pays a little over P1 million in occupational taxes each year.

Kasibu in Nueva Vizcaya and the towns of Cabarroguis, Nagtipunan and Maddela in Quirino divide 70 percent of the occupational tax based on the size of the exploration area under their jurisdiction, while 30 percent is remitted to the two provincial governments.

Arrojo said while mining companies like APMI gamble a substantial amount of capital on mining in the Philippines, the government is assured of gains in terms of revenues since the law requires every foreign mining company desiring to operate in the Philippines to invest at least $50 million.

Capisaan barangay captain Julie Nacodam said she sees that mining in the neighboring barangay of Didipio would mean "more benefits for our town and people in terms of infrastructure, employment and revenues."

"While Didipio will be the center of the mine operation, we foresee that all the surrounding villages including ours will be greatly benefited by the road network that will connect the upland village to the rest of the lowlands. Tourists could already see our pristine caves without a bumpy ride and we could already transport our farm products like citrus and other vegetables without delay," Nacodam said.