Solon wants permits of 4 Zambales mining firms canceled

Four nickel mining firms in Zambales province have been the subject of a petition seeking for a permanent cancellation of their permits, as they are being blamed for "environmental destruction" in Sta. Cruz town and neighboring areas.

Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines Inc., Eramen Minerals Inc., and LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. have been targeted by Kabataan Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, citing the firms' "previous offenses as sufficient evidence for the cancellation."

"The government should not allow mining operations that cause irreversible environmental degradation to continue any further. Clearly, a suspension order is not enough,” said Ridon in a statement on Saturday.

Also, he said he will file a resolution before the House of Representatives to get the attention of the committee on natural resources.

The same four firms were also subjects of an investigation by the (Mines and Geosciences Bureau) MGB over alleged nickel contamination in the area that led to the temporary suspension of their operations.

In the same statement, the Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz noted that water pollution due to nickel laterite from the four the firms had already reached 30 nautical miles offshore, causing the loss of livelihood among local fishermen.

“The MGB itself confirmed the veracity of the reported water pollution brought about by the mining operations of the companies in question. I believe that mere suspension of operations is not enough to address this issue. Permanent cancellation of permits and licenses should be done,” Ridon said.

The Environmental Management Bureau of the Environment Department had denied two of the four mining companies permission to haul nickel stockpiles from Zambales due to the environmental destruction they caused in the area. — Rie Takumi /LBG, GMA News