Atienza suspends tree-cutting permits of Sibuyan mine firms

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza has suspended the tree-cutting permits issued to small-scale mining companies in Romblon’s Sibuyan Island amid alleged “illegal” and “doubtful” operations of small-scale miners there.

This move virtually overturned the cutting licenses earlier issued by former DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes to Sibuyan Nickel Properties Development Corp. (SNPDC), All-Acacia Resources Inc., and Sun Pacific Resources Philippines Corp. under the name of a certain Gregorio Tabuena, consultant for all three small-scale mining firms.

Atienza suspended a total of five cutting permits – three for SNPDC, and one each for All-Acacia and Sun Pacific.

The suspension, he said, will take effect immediately and until the mining companies are able to justify “anomalies” in their small-scale mining operations.

In a press briefing the other day, Atienza questioned the permits granted to these firms to cut trees when these supposedly entail only the so-called artisanal method, or what is commonly known as mano-mano, using mere tools like crowbars, hammers and picks.

Atienza has also ordered a review of all existing tree-cutting permits granted to small-scale miners nationwide and directed his officials to stop issuing such permits to small-scale miners.      – Katherine Adraneda