TACLOBAN CITY—The people of Homonhon Island of Guiuan town in Eastern Samar province are holding a silent protest over the continued loading of chromite ore on a China-bound ship that has docked on the island. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Eastern Visayas has allowed the Panamanian-registered vessel, MW VW Peace, to load 7,000 metric tons of chromite ore, which would be shipped to China. The presence of the foreign vessel was strongly opposed by both the provincial government and the Borongan Diocese. “They should have at least disinfected first the [foreign] vessel and even the barge that will collect and load the chromite,” Lagos said. Techiron Resources, which was able to secure a permit to mine chromite ore, could have loaded the mineral after the general community quarantine had been lifted.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 17, 2020 20:01 UTC