The resumption of the limestone mining operation in Simacolong, Lazi, Siquijor is again being questioned by an environment advocate who had been pushing for its closure.

Goodyield Resources and Development Inc. president and chairman of the board, Joseph Loo, said the company resumed the mining operation after a voluntary suspension in 2001 due to the economic crisis and the market situation in the world market. The mining operation was also affected by the Sept. 11, 2001 bombing in New York, he said.

Since December 2005, it has loaded about 250,000 metric tons of limestone and exported it to Hongkong, operations officer Engr. Buddy Alhas said.

Loo further said that during the past four years, their partner in Hongkong, the Green Island Cement, preferred to buy clinker from Japan because it is cheaper by $10 compared to those produced by his company. He stressed that the voluntary suspension of their operation in 2001 has nothing to do with any violations on the Environment Compliance Certificate requirements, Loo said.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Region 7 said the limestone company in Simacolong, Lazi, Siquijor had substantially complied with the requirements as far as its office is concerned.

MGB-7 regional director Roger de Dios four others conducted an ocular inspection on the mining site to check if standards are met, following complaints of successive blasting that caused strong vibrations felt as far as three kilometers away from the quarry site.

But environment advocate and stakeholder Minnie Crouse insisted the stoppage was due to lapses and gross violations of the requirements under the ECC of the company.

Crouse claimed she was responsible for the closure of the company and vowed to continue with her advocacy as she expressed surprise over its resumption three months ago.

Loo said he believes that Crouse has a vested interest in the area, calling her the greatest "troublemaker" in their mining operation.

On the other hand, Crouse accused Loo of being the greatest "violator" of environmental laws, and raised questions as to why it was able to resume operations.

A heated argument and altercation ensued between Loo and Crouse in the presence of De Dios, inside the GRDI compound on Thursday.

The company is implementing a P1.5 million social management development program with the barangay that was delayed due to the four-year voluntary suspension.

GRDI administrative officer Ariel Tambuyat said he believes that there already is a sour relationship between GRDI and the residents headed by Crouse, which could be traced to the use of the barangay road of the company, which Crouse vehemently objected.

Crouse purchased the property in 1995 where the barangay road is located. Tambuyat said the barangay road already existed when Crouse acquired the lot.

On the other hand, Wilfredo Panabang, quarry manager, admitted that the blasting operation last Dec. 23, 2005 was so strong that it created 150 holes.

The number of blasting holes was reduced to 50 percent in response to the complaints of residents nearby, according to Panabang, who added, it reduces the operating costs of the company.

The team of the MGB from Region 7, the media, and members of the multipartite monitoring team including the stakeholder Minnie Crouse, witnessed the actual blasting operation.

Some of those who witnessed the blasting activity, including Crouse herself, said the blasts were not the real ones, which they usually heard during the past months. They suspected it was purposely set for the MGB-7 inspection team to witness.

Another concern raised by residents was the movement of explosives from the magazine area for fear that it might get to the wrong hands.

De Dios required the company to store the explosives in a permanent magazine for security reasons and that the police should be around, especially during the transport of the explosives to the quarry site.

The residents said, they only see police officers around because the team from MGB in Region 7 was also around during the blasting operations.

De Dios told the DAILY STAR that his office can only suspend mining operations in case of imminent danger on lives and properties.

But for ECC violations, the jurisdiction rests with the Environmental Management Bureau, De Dios said.*JG

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