Agusan illegal mining structures dismantled

BUTUAN CITY , Philippines – The Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) yesterday dismantled illegal mining structures in the hinterland villages in this city.

Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. said the dismantling was in response to Malacañang’s directive to dismantle illegal mining structures in flood and landslide-prone areas in the country, following the Compostela Valley landslide that left 31 persons dead, mostly small-scale miners.

“There was some resistance (from the miners) but they cannot blame us because last October, during our last consultation, we advised them to stop their illegal mining activities particularly in Barangays Maibu and Bilay,” Amante said.

ENRO official Jessie Ivan Saburao, one of the leaders of the demolition team, told The STAR in a phone interview that some of the miners were able to secure their water pumps, submer­sible pumping machines, shovels and other mining paraphernalia.

Amante and Saburao pro­mised to provide The STAR details of the dismantling upon their return.