Fearful residents seek end to mining in Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya

Residents living near a mining site in the town of Quezon in Nueva Vizcaya called on the government to stop mining operations in the area to prevent any further disasters.

According to Jonathan Andal’s report on “24 Oras” on Friday, 10 people were killed in a landslide during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses in the province last week.

The police reported that soil erosion occurred in three sitios in Barangay Runruno due to the saturated land.

The residents said the cause of the landslide was the amount of rainfall in the area and the corporations that conducted mining activities.

“Ni-request po namin na ‘wag muna silang mag-operate doon kasi maraming bahay sa baba. Katulad namin, bahay namin nandito. Wala naman silang sinasabi,” Fedy Gullunan said.

It was in 2019 that the residents sent a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte seeking to shut down the FCF Minerals Corporation because of its blasting activities near their houses.

Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos Padilla said the company was given a permit to operate, however, he is against their operations.

“Kung puwedeng ma-stop na ang mining, mas gusto namin pero ang mag-stop, hindi kami kundi ang national government,” Padilla said.

Meanwhile, some residents living near the mining site already have decided to relocate as they fear that another landslide might occur.

“Kasi papalapit na sila dito kaya delikado na rin dito,” Daniel Bumilao said.

GMA News already reached out to FCF and Malacañang but they have yet to respond as of posting time. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News