FROM how it looks, the Rizal Provincial Government would not be swayed by documents finding no fault on mining companies over the massive flooding that has hit the province during the onslaught of the recent typhoons.
In a letter addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte, Rizal Governor Rebecca Ynares reiterated their call for a full moratorium on the mining activities in the entire province.
READ: For the 4th time, Rizal Province asks Malacañang to stop mining in Rizal. | via @FernanAngeles pic.twitter.com/ms2hPrbvka
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Citing previous calls of the provincial government wanting to put an end to the mining operations in their territorial jurisdiction, Ynares said that Rizal gets to suffer every time a strong typhoon crosses the province, adding that they are appealing anew for the intervention of the national government to finally cave in to the wish of the Rizaleños – to put an end to mining in the province.
“The recent onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses replicated the havoc brought about by Typhoon Ondoy sometime in September 2009 and by Typhoon Habagat sometime in August 2013. The intense, prolonged rainfall released by these typhoons caused unprecedented flooding and landslides resulting in losses of life and limbs and billions of pesos in terms of property damages,” said Ynares in her letter dated November 18.
The provincial chief executive likewise lamented on the many instances that their request to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources seemed to have been shelved many times – in 2010, 2013 and again to President Duterte in 2016.
She went on to aver that as early as 2013, the Rizal provincial board has unanimously passed Resolution No. 223, series of of 2013 declaring a moratorium on the acceptance, processing and approval of new application for all forms of permits, contract, operating agreements and clearances on quarrying and mining activities in the province.
Ynares also asked the President to help the province in its bid for the issuance of a general moratorium on land development and local clearances, including mining and quarrying permits in the province of Rizal.
Interestingly, the towns of San Mateo and Montalban are home of at least 100 mining operations. However, a check on government records showed that only 10 have permits to operate – which Ynares said should no longer be renewed upon its expiration.
Both San Mateo and Montalban were submerged under two to three meter deep flood water at the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.