Zambales miners ask DENR to lift suspension vs 4 companies

STA. CRUZ, Zambales -  Some 2,500 mine workers from different large-scale mining companies in Zambales hit the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) after it suspended the operation of four major mining companies in the province, forcing them to lose their jobs.

The province of Zambales is known to be rich in nickel and chromite, which attracted large-scale mining companies to set up shop.

The fate of more than 2,500 workers, mostly from the town Sta. Cruz, now hang in the balance after the DENR suspension.

Regional Director Danilo Uykieng, officer in charge of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau- Region 3, ordered the suspension of the four mining companies- Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., BenguetCorp Nickel Mines Inc., Eramen Minerals Inc., and Lnl Archipelago Minerals Inc.- after they failed to pass a regulatory evaluation of their operations.

The group of workers from the companies called Coalition of Mine workers, Families and Communities (CMWFC) is pressing DENR to lift its suspension so they can go back to work and earn and honest living.

Orlan Mayor, spokesperson of the CMWFC, said that mining is the main livelihood of residents in the area.

"Malaking tulong ang trabaho naming sa minahan, wala naman ibang trabaho dito sa probinsiya maliban dyan, pwede naman magsaka pero seasonal lang naman 'yun," Mayor said. "Pano na 'yung pamilya nung libong mangagawa ng minahan kung

patuloy kaming walang trabaho?"

The group last Saturday held a caravan to protest the decision of DENR and held a mass afterwards in Sta. Cruz, Zambales.