Bayog LGU ensures mining company’s environmental compliance

PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) – Bayog Municipal Mayor Celso A. Matias emphasized his support for mining operations, stating that he is in favor of mining only if it adheres to responsible and sustainable practices.

“Ako, I am good for mining basta makita nato nga responsible and sustainable, ug nag-care gyud sila sa environment nato,” said Mayor Celso A. Matias in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency. (I am in favor of mining as long as we see that it is responsible and sustainable, and that they truly care for our environment.)

The Mayor said the local government of Bayog ensures the environmental compliance of the mining company, TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc., operating in the municipality through a monthly monitoring team that includes the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office.

Wala pa tay nakita nga nakahatag ug distroso sa operation sa TVI. Bisan sila nagmata gyud na kay nahadlok na sila na naay bikil gamay, undang gyud na sila,” Mayor Matias stressed. (We haven’t seen anything that has caused destruction from TVI’s operations. In fact, they are very cautious because they are afraid that even a small issue could lead to their operations being stopped.)

Angel Blaze Rendon-Sumapal, senior agriculturist of TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. joins the panelist and reactors in Dagyaw who responded to the queries of participants.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-9 held its Dagyaw Town Hall Meeting in Bayog in the second semester of 2024 with the theme “Kalikasan at Kahandaan: Sama-samang Tungkulin ng Mamamayan at Pamahalaan.”

This activity, which provides an open, neutral, and safe space for dialogue on pressing public issues, including the environmental hazards caused by natural disasters, was attended by over 1,100 participants from the municipality of Bayog and its neighboring towns.

A participant in Dagyaw voices her environmental concern to the panelist and reactors.

Elma Bosque, the Civil Society Organization Officer of the municipality of Kumalarang said that they are happy to attend the activity because they have heard the answers of the mining company regarding their question on environmental protection.

Nagpasalamat ko ug dako na naapil mi diri sa Dagyaw kay daghan mi ug nakutlo na sulbad sa atoang mga problema [environmental],” she said. (I am very grateful that we were able to attend the Dagyaw because we gained a lot of insights on how our environmental problems are being solved.)

The TVI underscores its support for the activity, recognizing the importance of the collective efforts of the company, the community, and the government in achieving better service for the public. TVI emphasizes the company’s contribution to the economic growth of the Zamboanga Peninsula, particularly by prioritizing local residents for employment. Currently, 90% of their workforce is male and 10% female, with 89% of employees coming from Bayog and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

“We have a social development and management program under it that supports livelihood, infrastructure needs of the host community, education, health and even financial assistance. Maliban sa environmental initiatives, meron pong mga ganun,” said senior agriculturist Angel Blaze Rendon- Sumapal of TVI. 

Mayor Matias calls on the constituents of Bayog to be vigilant and report any suspicious incidents in their surrounding barangays so that an investigation can be conducted and immediate action can be taken by both the national and local governments.

“Sa mga katawhan sa lungsod sa Bayog, gikinahanglan nga mulambigit kita, kinahanglan nga igmat kita, mulantaw kita kung unsay nahitabo sa atong palibot. I-inform gyud ang local government kay para makahatag ta ug direkta nga action,” said Mayor Matias.

(To the people of the municipality of Bayog, we need to be involved, we need to be alert, and we should look around to see what is happening in our surroundings. It is important to inform the local government so that we can provide direct action.) (EDT/CCP/PIA-9)

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