[ferro-alloys.com]Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy A. Cimatu issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) against small-scale mining activities in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) following the landslide in an abandoned mine site in Barangay Ucab, Itogon, Benguet brought about by the Typhoon Ompong on Sunday morning, which affected more than 60 people, mostly small-scale miners and their families.

In his statement during the press briefing last September 17, Secretary Cimatu asked the small-scale miners to stop all their current activities until the approval and proclamation of the other existing applications are in place.

He added that the DENR will send men from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to further impose the ban on all small-scale mining activities in CAR.

See transcript of Sec. Cimatu’s issuance of CDO below:

“So in view of this current situation in the Cordilleras, to prevent further danger in the lives of small-scale miners, I officially order cease and desist of all illegal small-scale mining operations in the whole of Cordillera Administrative Region.

At present, there are existing applications for Minahang Bayan in some areas of the Region. While we await for the approval and proclamation of these applications, we ask our small scale miners to cooperate and stop all small-scale mining activities here.

The DENR will be sending men from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to effect the stoppage of all mining activities, especially here in Itogon.”

• [Editor:王可]