Mining as an industry helps in economic development and generates employment. However, the unabated illegal mining operations have taken their toll, giving the industry a bad reputation.
In order to address this nagging issue, the government, thru the DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, created the National Task Force Mining Challenge (NTFMC) on January 26, 2018 in the interest of the service, and pursuant to the Republic Act No. 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995; Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2010-21 (Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 7942); RA 7076 (People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991); and DAO No. 2015-03 (Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA No. 7076).
The Task Force’s main objective is to strengthen the enforcement of the said laws and other environmental laws, rules and regulations all over the Philippines.
Its initial operation was undertaken in Baguio City in February 2018.
The task involved the apprehension, seizure, confiscation, dismantling of facilities and filing of complaints against illegal small-scale mining operators within the Philippine Military Academy, led by Secretary Cimatu. It eventually led to the blasting of portals (tunnel entrances) of the previously apprehended small-scale mining sites.
Another crackdown operation was implemented by the NTFMC in Surigao del Norte in April 2018.
The NTFMC was comprised of composite teams from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Central Office, MGB Regional Office No. XIII, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) -Tubod, CENRO-Tubay and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer-Surigao Del Norte.
Apprehension of operators, and seizure and confiscation of the identified illegal small-scale activities and mineral processing operations in Brgy. Magsaysay and Brgy. Bugas-Bugas, Placer, Surigao del Norte were also conducted.
By: Mining Technology Division
Construction of possible leaching pads for future mineral processing operations in NTFMC Baguio Operation
Sacks of materials being confiscated in a mineral processing plant in Placer, Surigao del Norte