Stopping the gold rush

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The timely intervention by the government in suspending the illegal quarry operations to avert a possible “gold rush” scenario in a remote barangay in Siaton, Negros Oriental was a manifestation of political will.

Inspection by the engineering and environmental departments of the town, showed that a large chunk of the mountainside had been quarried and accounts by local residents confirmed that gold dust and small nuggets were being extracted from it and from a nearby stream.

The presence of raw gold traces in the area could attract the attention of enterprising businessmen or individuals wanting to make money out of this highly valuable and precious metal, and their entry could endanger the lives of miners.

Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. Miners extracting gold from place deposits, a common practice in prospecting and small scale mining. The minerals found in the province are copper, silver, gold ore with reserves reaching about 25 million tons and other non-metallic minerals suitable for agriculture and industrial purposes.

We laud the suspension because it could prevent loss of lives in our province and avoid a disaster like what happened in the Compostela Valley in Davao late last year.

We believe our officials exercised this right to stop the illegal quarry operations and avoid a very likely “gold rush” to the area while at the same time protecting the lives of miners, properties and our environment.*