Itogon asks mine firm to resolve land claims

By ALMA B. SINUMLAG
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Copy furnished the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) here on November 28 were resolutions from the municipality of Itogon on the issues of surface owners against Philex Mining Corporation (PMC) specifically in its tailings pond No. 3.

In the Itogon Sangguniang Bayan (SB) resolution numbered 241 series of 2011 entitled “Resolution forwarding matters to the management of PMC thru its resident manager, Engr. Eulalio B. Austin to resolve the issues pursuant to the memorandum of agreement (MOA) executed in 2004, it presented several complaints.

A letter dated July 25, 2011 from Alfredo Tiangao, representative of the heirs of Tiangao was received by the SB on compensation for the continuous utilization and quarrying of their land claim located at PMC’s tailings pond No. 3.

Also, a resolution from the Itogon-Tuba Community of Elders Association Incorporated (ITCEA) was received requesting the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to hold the indorsement and approval of PMC’s renewal of a Special Land Use Area Permit Application (SAPA) because of several issues unresolved including compensation.

The resolution further stated the SB passed on September 11 this year a resolution ratifying the MOA entered into by the management of PMC and the Municipality of Itogon in 2004 regarding the construction of the Tailings Pond No. 3 spillway at Sitio Balog, Ampucao of this town providing resolutions to the claims and future damages.

Moreover, a letter was received dated August 19, 2011 from the surface claimants in Sitio Pula, Barangay Ampucao of Itogon (Tailings Pond No. 3) requesting Mayor Oscar Camantiles and Vice Mayor Noel Ngolob for intercession and assistance on unresolved claims against the said mine firm.

The said letter presented that there had been dialogues conducted between the land claimants and the mine firm however, nothing has been agreed upon specially to settle the issue on just compensation. The mode of payment proposed by the company is unacceptable and found to be unfair to the claimants.

On the other hand, Itogon SB resolution numbered 242 series of 2011 stated that the August body specifically the Committee on Laws conducted a meeting with a representative from PMC and learned that some of the surface claimants have availed of the plant density scheme mode of payment. Thus in order to come up with an appropriate legal action the SB needs to identify who has availed of payment in the said scheme.

The resolution strongly requested the Management of PMC to furnish the SB of its listing of claimants who has availed of payment thru their plant density scheme. # nordis.net