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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 16) – President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to investigate illegal mining and logging activities in the Cagayan Valley following the catastrophic floods in the region due to Typhoon Ulysses.
The president held a meeting in the city of Tuguegarao, capital of Cagayan province, on Sunday to assess the impact of the typhoon.
He said the government is working to prevent another disaster by stepping up forest protection efforts against illegal logging and mining. He said the holes caused by mining loosen the soil, posing a threat to residents of the area.
“Let’s see, like I said, it is propped up from time to time. I will direct General Cimatu here to investigate illegal mining, especially where people are building their shelters down,” Duterte said during the briefing.
He told Cimatu that if mining activities in the area cannot be completely stopped, then he should find a way to place the houses in a safer area.
The environment chief said they have issued cease and desist orders against small-scale mining operations, adding that 10 people who died in landslides were working at illegal mining sites.
“There is no permit for mining areas, sir. Illegal mining po itong mga lugar ‘yung namatay. So we have already filed cases and cease and desist order for these corrupt people,” Cimatu said.
Cagayan residents were shocked when massive floods hit their province during Typhoon Ulises. The floodwaters reached more than 13 meters high in some areas, leaving thousands of residents stranded and desperate to be rescued.
The governor of Cagayán, Manuel Mamba, assumed that the massive floods in the province were not only due to the spill of the Magat dam, but were also caused by the “denudation of forests” and the “sedimentation of rivers” that need solutions to long term.
He said that the restoration of the riverbed, the dredging of the Cagayan River and the greening of the region’s forests will help address flood problems, but will require the consolidated effort of the entire region.
Cimatu said the local government has received the signal to dredge parts of the Cagayan river to prevent the overflow.
“I approved the Governor’s request for a 30-kilometer dredging from the river mouth, upstream and that will really help a lot, Mr. President,” he said.
Typhoon Ulyses killed at least 67 people nationwide after it struck Luzon last week, leaving towns submerged in floods and billions of pesos in damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
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