By Rachel Magday
Woogle Corporation has committed to pull out all of its equipment from Sitio Keon, Barangay Bitnong, Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya following the suspension order issued by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) on the company’s exploration permit.
The commitment was made by Woogle Corporation President Tommy Alfonso during a Senate Committee on Local Government hearing on Tuesday to address mining concerns in the municipality.
During the hearing, Committee Chair Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said the company should remove all its equipment to dispel doubts among residents that Woogle intends to continue its exploration activities despite the suspension order.
Alfonso said pulling out the equipment would be easy, but the rehabilitation of the affected area could take months. He explained that the company would need to plant trees as part of its rehabilitation efforts before fully completing its withdrawal from the site.
Estrada added that it would be up to the MGB whether to permanently cancel the exploration permit previously granted to the company. During the hearing, it was revealed that no proper consultations were conducted with the barangays covered by the exploration activities.
Barangay chairpersons within the affected areas maintained that what took place was merely a presentation of the company’s profile and not a formal consultation. They said they were not asked whether they consented to mining operations in their respective barangays.
It was also agreed during the hearing that alongside the pullout of equipment, the company would be allowed to release the ore samples it had extracted and turn them over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for further study.
Estrada told barangay officials to immediately inform him if the company returns any equipment to the area, saying he would personally look into the matter.
Also present at the Senate hearing was former governor Ruth R. Padilla, who reiterated her strong opposition to mining activities in Nueva Vizcaya. According to the former governor, the cost of mining would be the destruction of mountains and farmlands, directly affecting farmers who depend on the land for their livelihood.
