http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006082172256.html

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said yesterday that it acted on mining firms in Palawan based on existing rules and regulations stipulated in the small-scale mining permits issued by the local government.

Horacio Ramos, DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau director, said the DENR has documents to support that mining operations in the municipality of Narra, Palawan, particularly that of Platinum Group Metals Corp., were within the bounds of the law.

“Our records show that our actions on PGMC were based on the existing rules and regulations in the small-scale mining permit issued by the provincial governor of Palawan (Joel Reyes),” he stressed.

Ramos dismissed allegations, reportedly aired to stop PGMC from legally operating a mine site in Narra, that the DENR led by Secretary Angelo Reyes allowed PGMC to operate without a permit.

“PGMC is operating by virtue of the small-scale mining permit issued by the provincial governor. It is thus unfair to drag the name of Secretary Angelo Reyes involving a permit issued by the local government,” he said.

He reiterated that the DENR is fair in enforcing the law against mining firms.

While PGMC was allowed to extract 50,000 metric tons of ore per year by virtue of two small-scale mining permits in a span of two years, another two permits were issued to Olympic Mines and Development Corp., which entered into an operating agreement with PGMC to operate the mine site.

Guillermo Estabillo Jr. of the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board said PGMC has complied with the stringent conditions stipulated in the mining permits issued by the provincial government of Palawan.

He said PGMC is extracting ore within its limit stipulated in the small scale mining permits and added that it has not yet started mining in Española, Palawan. “So how can a farmer be affected by a heavy siltation in Espanola?”

The PGMC was able to satisfy a series of public consultations participated in by all sectors and pass the scrutiny of the regulatory board as well the provincial government. (Robert R. Requintina)