BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA—Residents of Cagayan province were demanding answers from the government on how an offshore mining operation was allowed in waters off Gonzaga town without consultation with local communities. ADVERTISEMENT“Whoever allowed this must answer to the people whose livelihood will be lost because of mining,” complained fisherman Ernesto Orpilla, who saw the photos spreading in social media. Saying the JDVC activities were exploratory, Mario Ancheta, acting MGB Cagayan Valley director, said the MPSA was issued on June 9, 2010, by then Environment Secretary Horacio Ramos. A total of five MPSAs had been issued for offshore mining in the northern coast of Cagayan, covering a total of about 536 square kilometers—an area almost the same size as Metro Manila. Cesar Siador, EMB Cagayan Valley director, said JDVC did not appear on EMB records.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 13, 2018 21:00 UTC