DENR orders arrest of illegal miners in Nueva Vizcaya

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered the arrest of illegal miners in several towns in Nueva Vizcaya.

Mario Ancheta, regional director for the Cagayan Valley of the DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau, (MGB) issued the order in response to complaints from barangay officials.

Kasibu and Dupax del Norte are two towns where MGB personnel found evidence of illegal mining.

In a letter to concerned officials,  Ancheta said small-scale mining in the two towns is illegal and against the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

He said investigation conducted by MGB teams showed that improvised processing plants have been set up in the sites visited by investigators.

He added that aside from illegal mining, MGB personnel found evidence of illegal cutting of trees.

Earlier, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla accused certain provincial officials of tolerating illegal mining in the province.

He said these officials have even found a way of making money by charging a transport fee of P250,000 per truck of 25 tons of mine tailings.