Most mini gold plants in Caraga lack ECCs

SURIGAO CITY – Rampant, unabated violation of environmental and tax laws by today’s top money making logging and mining industries in both small and large scale categories were recently unearthed in Caraga Region.

The discovery was made after personnel from the regional office of the Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) accompanied by a group of selected newsmen made a routine monitoring and visit to mini gold ore processing plants, mini ball and rod mills and mineral ore stockyards in the region Tuesday.

Aside from having no corresponding government permits, it was discovered that almost all environmentally-critical structures like mini gold processing pants and stockyards had no Environmental Compliance Certificate.

And because no official records can be traced by the government, many if not all of the mini gold ores processing plants, rod and ball mills and mineral ore stockyards were discovered to have not paid proper taxes depriving the cash-starved government of rightful revenues.

In Placer, Surigao del Norte, no less than town officials headed by Mayor Chary Mangacop admitted to newsmen and EMB officials that majority of the more than 100 rod and ball mills, 22 mini gold processing plants and some stockyards have not secured a mayor’s and business permit including ECC.

Mangacop, who just seated as municipal mayor on June 2007 after winning the May 2007 polls said he only discovered just now that said mini gold and mineral ores, are located in populated areas like in Sitio Mapaso, Barangay Magsaysay, Placer, Surigao del Norte  – Ben Serrano