DRT mayor’s truck impounded for illegal transfer of minerals


CITY OF MALOLOS—The mayor of Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT) town is facing charges of violation of Bulacan environmental code for allowing his truck to be used in transporting illegally mined iron ore mineral products.
On duty personnel of the Bulacan provincial government environment office (BENRO) intercepted a 6X6 truck load of iron ore minerals extracted from iron ore-rich mountain site of Barangay Camachin in DRT at a checkpoint in Norzagaray town on Thursday.
Senior Supt. Fernando Villanueva, Bulacan provincial police director said the truck with plate number RAH 611 is owned by DRT Mayor Ronaldo T. Flores and the iron ore cargo was mined by Ore Asia Mining and Development Corp. (OAMDC).
Atty. Rustico De Belen, BENRO chief told Inquirer Sunday the truck and the extracted Bulacan’s natural wealth were seized following failure of truck driver identified as Ryan Cruz to show pertinent documents and permits as to legality of the transporting of the mined product.
Flores, a first time mayor after he won in last May’s election could not be contacted for his comment after he refused to answer the call and text messages made and sent to him by NEWS CORE on his mobile phone.
De Belen said that while OAMDC has a Mineral Product Sharing Agreement (MPSA) permit and an Ore Transfer Permit (OTP) both issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) central and regional office respectively, it is found to have violated the environmental law code of the province.
According to De Belen, the seized iron ore minerals and its transfer have no governor’s accreditation or hauling pass in violation of Provincial Ordinance No. 95-1(A) and the newly created Bulacan environment code.
Gov. Wilhemino Sy-Alvarado’ suspension orders on all mining firms in Bulacan that are destructive to the province’s natural wealth remain up.
Alvarado made the suspension of all mining and other operations in the mountains of Bulacan that lies along the Sierra Madre ranges immediately when he assumed post at the provincial capitol last July to make an inventory of the operations of all mining companies in the province to help preserve them from full destruction.
However, a month after, he lifted the said suspension when mining companies requested him to allow them to operate as they voluntarily submit themselves for regular scrutiny in their operations and to police their ranks from unscrupulous deeds of their fellow mining firms.
Following the inventory, the provincial government pulled up to P15 million already the worth of collected taxes and permits from close to 100 quarry and mining operators in Bulacan. The said amount is already a one year collection from the mining sector during the previous years.
It can be recalled that on October 7 this year, an environmental impact assessment of the mining project of OAMDC was held in Camachin where several sector representatives expressed displeased due to claims of environmental degradation of Bulacan’s natural resources and minerals.
Reports reaching the governor’s office revealed that residents in Camachin, claimed that the operations of OAMDC in their place is destructive and are calling for an immediate investigation because the mining activities being made there are allegedly against the provisions of the Philippine Mining Act.
Ely Borcena of the Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society has asked the proponent of the project on how it can proceed with a mining operation without destroying the environment.
Borcena who is also a representative of the Dumagat tribe living in Camachin and adjacent mountainous villages in DRT have also expressed concerns over the lives, safety and livelihood of their group that is being affected by the mining operation of OAMDC.
Sources from DRT divulged to Inquirer that Flores entered a contract with OAMDC as hauler of the firm’s mined products in DRT.
But, officials said when a legitimate hauling truck firm already transports products without necessary transport permits from all concerned agencies, it also become an illegal act and can be subjected into necessary sanction.