DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte—Tawi-Tawi Chamber of Commerce vice president Datu Abubakar Halun has expressed concern over the proposed mining of minerals in mainland Tawi-Tawi, located in the southernmost tip of the country.

Halun, who arrived here for the 17th Mindanao Business Conference (Minbizcon), said three mining firms have applied for an open-pit mining of minerals that include gold, silver, copper and iron in an area in Tawi-Tawi mainland that straddles the province’s five towns.

The areas identified in the application for open-pit mining are the towns of Languyan, Sapa-Sapa, Tanduh Bas, Panglima Sugala and Bongao, the province’s capital, according to Halun.

Tawi-Tawi is made up of 11 towns covering 107 islands and islets, with a combined land area of 1,147 square kilometers.

Halun said he is concerned about the effects of open-pit mining, specifically for gold, as it could not be avoided that miners will be using cyanide to separate the gold ore from earth materials.

“What would happen next once the environment will be contaminated with cyanide?” he said. “It will poison our rivers, tributaries, as well as the wildlife habitat.”

Once this will happen, Halun said, a majority of the people will lose their livelihood,  since “most of us rely on fishing and seaweed farming.” He urged concerned stakeholders to conduct a thorough study before making any decision on the applications to mine minerals in Tawi-Tawi mainland.

Halun said he would present the situation in the third plenary of the 17th Minbizcon that focuses on the impact of social development and management program to mining communities.

The resource persons in the third plenary are Chamber of Mines president Benjamin Philip Romualdez and Panaghiusa sa Reporma Inisitiabo Magpalambo sa Ekonomiya (Prime) president Lucena Galigao.

Dipolog City Chamber of Commerce   president Edgar Bagarinao said the participants in the conference will tackle the issue of responsible mining in the third plenary on the second day of the 17th Minbizcon.

“The law [on responsible mining] is there, but the question is how are they doing it?” Bagarinao said.

The 17th Minbizcon opened here on Wednesday and will end Friday.

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DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte—Tawi-Tawi Chamber of Commerce vice president Datu Abubakar Halun has expressed concern over the proposed mining of minerals in mainland Tawi-Tawi, located in the southernmost tip of the country.

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