Along with the other media personalities in this city, I've attended the mining forum in the municipality of Bayog over the weekend. I was not as important as other guests who attended in the forum. But I felt elated having been there, once more, met and greeted with "hugs and hello's" by old time buddies in the government service, in that area having been there for over ten (10) years, more or less, being the town's Local Government Officer, of which those times of wine and roses.
The mining forum initiated by its new Chief Executive, Mayor Leonardo Babasa was a timely activity considering the problems the municipality is confronting now especially with the influx of people at the new mine site area at sitio Balabag in barangay Depore, Bayog.
Apart from the problems of governance which are well within the scope of the LGU management, what the small miners are apprehensive all about is the forthcoming full operations of the TVI group. As part of our social and corporate responsibility to the community, we urge the Local Unit, thru its Mayor and the Sanggunian Bayan, to revisit their functions and duties spelled out in the Local Government Code. That is to harmonize everything and end once and for all the management problems in the area.
Grapevine news are spreading like wildfire that within 12 to 18 months the TVI which is a foreign based company may eventually forced the small miners out from the area. The question are its metes and bounds. Both the small and the TVI cannot agree on its boundaries. Each is claiming each. Both does not know where to go and how to solve the issue. What we know is the fact TVI has a greater influence over the small scale miners. These are news that are not confirmed yet. But that the likelihood is that it would happen so soon.
Mayor Babasa in an exclusive interview, said he will protect the small scale miners because most of them are organic residents of the area, apart from the fact that the influx of residents coming from the nearby areas are seeking his protection. But how far could the mayor protect them with the way and style is going? TVI on the other hand is silent on the present issue. As said by its spokesman, as much as possible, their existence over the area would respect the idea of mutual and peaceful co-existence with the small scale miners. But that is not a guarantee. By now the local government of Bayog must start exploring solutions before the time lapses.
The local miners are by law protected. But the way I look is that money is more powerful and influential than any good arrangements made down the level. I have the assumption that after all the dust have subsided, the small miners can be relegated down the corner. And an unprecedented trouble could just erupt. That is the time the military and police could come in.
At the moment, our concern is the lifeblood of the small miners. Not much on the rich groups that at present is making their heydays at the area. The small miners consisting of residents of the town, to include the number of IPs living in the area. We know that if the government cannot avert the present signs of disorders, the people affected can fight their way up by the other means. And everybody knows what I mean. These are matters that both local and national governments, must not take the issue sitting down.
We do not side with anybody. It is not enough that LGU officials get what they want out of the business at sitio Balabag. What is necessary is an effective action that could eventually thwart any bloodshed in the future between the small scale miners and the large and foreign interests now present in the area. Gone are the days of running gun battles in that area. Let there be peace. Peace that would dwell within the every hearts of the people in the municipality of Bayog.
By Vic G. del Pilar
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