By Jhelyn G. Andal

 

Due to lack of proper documents required by the Provincial Board’s Committee on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, the small-scale mining application of Fujian Sino-Phil Mining Corp. was turned down last week.

 

Fujian Sino-Phil Mining Corp. was applying for small-scale mining operations at Brgys. Jolo and Tinitian in Roxas, Palawan.

 

Chairman of the Committee, Board Member Gil Acosta, said during the committee report that the application must be returned back to the proponent because Fujian was not able to show endorsements from the barangay councils and the municipal council. He emphasized that social acceptability is one of the factors considered by his committee before endorsing an application to the Board.

 

“What has been highlighted was the consideration of the Committee, which is the social acceptability,” Acosta said.

 

However, Acosta clarified that the company may still re-apply after securing endorsements from the barangay and municipal councils.

 

“They can re-apply to the Provincial Board but they have to go back to the lower council, the barangay and the municipal. All the requirements of the committee must be properly addressed as well,” he stressed.

 

During the Board’s 50th regular session July 22, Tuesday, Acosta related that, in a previous visit to Roxas, the committee found out that there was already an ongoing construction done by Fujian and that the company had already purchased equipment such as dump trucks and backhoe.

 

“But we were informing the proponents in the last committee meeting that their efforts would be of no use because they still have to show the kind consideration that they have followed the requirements of the committee,” the board member said.

 

The committee was also told that during a typhoon in Roxas, Fujian gave assistance to the various barangays and signed a memorandum of understanding with the barangay council of Magara and the municipal council of Roxas in line with the road construction at  Brgy. Magara financed by the company.

 

“Looking at this development in that area, we in the committee also feels sympathy for the proponent. They are investing lots of money. It also seems unfair so we are returning this to the proponent as far as the findings of the committee are concerned,” Acosta expressed during the committee report.