Atro Mining welcomes City Council decision

 

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR (May 2, MPF NEWS) --- Calling it the "triumph of reason and rule of law," Atro Mining-Vitali, Inc. (AMVI) has commended the City Council of Zamboanga City for its twin decision supporting the operations of the mining company, AMVI Firm Official said Friday.

Atro Mining-Vitali, Inc Corporate Communications Officer Antonio M. Manaytay press statement said that AMVI President Mr. Elson Ogario commended the city council's decision supporting the company demonstrated its collective wisdom to side with reason and rule of law.

Manaytay said, the Zamboanga City Council during their regular session on April 29, 2014 approved the resolution of no objection to the mining operations of AMVI, and another resolution urging Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar to grant AMVI the Mayor's Permit for the establishment of its office in Vitali.

Manaytay said that the twin resolutions were offshoots of the results of the investigation conducted by the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources chaired by City Councilor Charlie Mariano.

He said, the 25-page committee report penned by Councilor Mariano cited Executive Order No. 79 and a memorandum of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

He explained that in Section 12 of the Executive Order No. 79 directed the DILG and LGUs to "ensure that the exercise of the latter's powers and functions is consistent with and conform to regulations, decisions, and policies already promulgated and taken by the National Government relating to the conservation, development, management, and proper utilization of the State's mineral resources particularly RA 7942 and its implementing rules and regulations".

Manaytay added that DILG Memorandum 181 dated November 8, 2012 directed all local government unit officials to comply with Section 12 of the Executive Order No. 79.

"We commend the members of the city council for coming up with the decision," Mr. Ogario said, adding, "as we fervently hope that the decision will pave the way for the city mayor to re-consider," the AMVI Official said.

Manaytay also said that the mining firm appreciated Mayor Climaco-Salazar in her weekly media briefing last April 21 said that she stand firm on her decision not to grant business permit to AMVI, but she will abide by the decision of the City Council.

The mayor said the area where AMVI intends to conduct its mining operations in barangay Vitali is situated in an identified proposed watershed area of Zamboanga City.

Manaytay said the AMVI, however, maintained the company's stand that "under the law, a watershed which is still under the stage of proposal to be declared as a Protected Watershed is still open for mining."

At the same time Manaytay said, AMVI President Ogario had pointed out that the city mayor's concern for the environment and the future generation is shared by the company.

"We would like to stress time and again that the portion of the proposed watershed area which is now covered by an MPSA already became a Mineral Land in accordance with law. Hard Rock Mineral Trading, Inc., the MPSA grantee, and its exclusive operator, Atro Mining, now have a priority right over the area," the AMVI Official statment explained.

So the public may know the proposed Vitali Watershed area that we are talking to are part of the big logging operations in the past, Manayatay said.

The proposed watershed area is already logged-over and bald. Since the time logging operations were stopped, there were no attempts to reforest these areas. Some portions of the area too are already with households, he added.

"Though we will be doing mining operations in the area, but our presence there would greatly help in the betterment of the area, in the restoration of the forests, in the protection of the environment, in the prevention of landslides and erosion and ultimately, in creating a better watershed," he said.

He said the majority of the City Council has approved a Resolution interposing "No Objection" to the mining operations of AMVI and also recommending to the City Mayor to favorably consider the company's application for the granting of Mayor's Permit, some sectors are keen to know if the she will abide by her earlier statement and be true to her word.