CANDELARIA, Zambales: Anti-mining advocates in this province claimed that the provincial governor has allowed a mining firm here to haul stockpiles of nickel ore from the mountains to the port in the guise of doing environmental rehabilitation. Amor Deloso with Westchinamin, described as a small scale miner, has allowed the said firm to haul its over a million metric ton stockpile of nickel ore from the mountains. “The use of heavy equipment is not allowed in small scale mining, and extraction in small scale mining is limited to 50,000 tons per annum,” Molino said. The Supreme Court has stopped mining operations of all small scale mining companies in Zambales during the time of former Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Deloso ordered a moratorium on mining in Zambales on his first day in office last year.

Source: Manila Times January 14, 2017 12:20 UTC