By Jhelyn G. Andal

 

            The Provincial Board proposed a resolution creating an alternative livelihood program for illegal gold panners from Barangays Magara and Caramay, Roxas, Palawan. Proposed Resolution No. 161-2008, authored by Board Member Gil Acosta, requests Gov. Joel Reyes to allocate funds for the purpose.

 

Some 34 gold panners were arrested and charged of theft of minerals in Roxas last June in an operation conducted by Kilusan Sagip Kalikasan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Palawan NGO Network, Inc. in the municipality.

 

The Board has not yet decided what livelihood program to provide but Board Member Alice Fabellon suggested to encourage the gold panners to plant coconut trees in their lands.

 

According to Acosta, government agencies are not dong any serious action regarding the matter though he acknowledged the efforts of law enforcement agencies in the province to combat such activities.

 

“It is high time that the Provincial Government do something on this issue,” Acosta said. He added that government should look into ways of legalizing gold extraction.

 

Other board members, as well as Vice-Gov. David Ponce de Leon, also expressed their opinion in legitimizing the operations.

 

“If we allow big-time miners to conduct operations, then we should also allow these small-time miners,” Board Member Modesto Rodriguez Jr said. According to him, it would be unfair if large mining companies conduct explorations in the province while the locals are not allowed to do so.

 

            The resolution was referred to the Board’s Committees on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Appropriation, Poverty Alleviation, and Cooperative.