President Rodrigo Duterte instructed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to look into illegal mining and logging activities in Cagayan Valley after the massive flooding in the region that submerged towns and trapped residents during Typhoon Ulysses.
This was verbalized by the president during a meeting in Cagayan’s provincial capital Tuguegarao City on Sunday.
“Let us see, as I have said, it props up every now and then, I will direct here General Cimatu to look into the illegal mining, especially where the people are building their shelters downwards,” Duterte said.
If complete halting of mining activities in the area is not possible, Cimatu should find a way to place homes in a safer area, Duterte added.
The environment chief also said that the department has issued cease-and-desist orders against small-scale mining operations.
“There’s no mining area given permit, sir. Illegal mining po itong mga lugar ‘yung namatay. So we have filed cases already and cease and desist order for these crooked people,” Cimatu said.
The province of Cagayan was caught off guard by the severity of floods that occurred in its area during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses. Floodwater reached over 13 meters high in some areas, leaving thousands of residents stranded and desperate for rescue.
Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba opined that the catastrophic flooding was not due to the spilling from the Magat Dam alone, but was also caused by the “denudation of forests” and “siltation of rivers” which need long-term solutions.
