Miners still defy 45-day moratorium in Mt. De Oro

DAVAO CITY — Thousands of small-scale miners continue to defy the 45-day moratorium on mining activities which the Department of Environment and Natural Resources enforced late last month at the new gold-rush site in Mt. De Oro in Maco, Compostela Valley.

"They just won’t listen. The mining activities continue despite the stoppage order," said Marilou Jacinto, Southern Min—danao head of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

The 45-day moratorium was enforced due to the danger to lives and property posed by landslides which the random and improper digging of tunnels in the site could trigger.

Despite the moratorium, Jacinto said miners continue digging tunnels, thus increasing the chances that landslides could occur.

There are over 1,500 tunnels in the mining site, only 80 of which are covered by permits.

Jacinto said miners continue to trek to the gold-rush site in Barangay Barile, eluding checkpoints manned by the Army’s 60th Infantry Battalion and the regional police command.

"Our security forces cannot cover the entire mining site. These miners are still able to bring their equipment to the area," Jacinto said.

According to Lt. Col. Edgar Gonzales, all roads leading to Mt. De Oro have been properly sealed by the joint police-military team.

"But we cannot stop those who take the risk and enter the mining site by foot and those who do not pass through these roads," he said.

Jacinto said several miners flock to Mt. De Oro despite reports that not much gold ore deposits can be found there.

"They still continue to go up to the area and try their luck but I guess they will soon realize there is really nothing there," she told The STAR.