Salceda: No problem with mining EO

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Albay Gov. Joey Salceda sees no problem with the executive order on mining that President Aquino is set to sign.

“I already talked to President Aquino and he understands our problem,” he said.

Salceda said he had clarified to Aquino that the statistics on the 40 provinces that banned large-scale mining operation came from Director Leo Jasareno of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

“Of course, it has more impact in the story if there are 40 governors who oppose a new executive order which President Aquino is going to sign,” he said.

“We don’t oppose the new executive order. What I told President Aquino is very simple: According to the MGB 40 provinces have passed ordinances restricting, regulating or totally banning mining. It’s not me. It’s MGB.”

Almost half of the country’s 81 provinces, mostly from Eastern, Western and Central Visayas, are against large-scale mining operations.

Salceda said the two existing mining operations in Albay are: the geothermal mining at Tiwi and in the island barangay of Rapu-Rapu.

“Geothermal mining and Rapu-Rapu mining operations are going on, but Albayanos don’t really benefit from them,” he said.

“We don’t benefit from them while the reserves are being depleted daily.”

Salceda said Albay gets only P11 million from the geothermal operations at Tiwi town and Aleco owes Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) 2.4 billion.

He wants to change the law allowing large-scale mining operators to pay only 2 percent tax, he added.