Philippine Government Ignored 131 Mine Applicants

Companies who do not have community consent:
Davao City---The Philippine government has rejected at least 131 mine applications since November this 2011 mainly because of the applicant's inability to acquire prior consent from communities where the mining operations will be located, according to mining officer.


        Among the rejected applications were those for mineral production sharing agreements, exploration permits and financial technical assistance agreements, Wilfredo Moncado said, acting chief of Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Mr. Moncado did not identify the companies whose applications were rejected or the specific areas where they want to conduct mining. However the main reason for application rejection was the failure of applicants to secure the consent of indigenous communities where they planned to conduct mining operation.

        Consent from the indigenous communities should come in the form of certifications from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, the government body overseeing concerns of indigenous communities. The rejected mining applicants also failure to to secure proof of consultation with local government units that had jurisdiction over the areas where they wanted to mine, Moncado added. Failure of the applicantsto comply with any of the requirements shall be ground for the denial of the mining permit based on the order given by Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Moncado told the reporters.

        Of the 131 mining applications, Moncado said only 73 filed for Motion for Reconsideration (MR). For those who did not file an MR, their applications will automatically be removed from the lists. Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Southern Mindanao has forwarded to the MGB Central office some 27 mining applications for approval. Most of the 27 applicants--involving local mining investors--have practically complied with all the necessary requirements. Moncado said the 27 mining applications were for areas in Compostela Valley province.
        The provincial government of Compostela Valley last month said it was working with the DENR to relocate families living in the danger zones in the gold rush area of Mount Diwalwal in Monkayo town. Compostela Valley lawmaker Rep. Maricar Zamora-Apsay said families living in danger zones in the gold rush area are exposed to disasters associated with small-scale mining, example landslides.

        DENR agreed to the relocation plan, alloting an initial of 100 million PHP ($2.27million) to move families   away from high-risk areas and other related projects by the Compostela Valley government, Apsay said. The legislator said relocating families, however, was just a short-term solution to the lack of safe mining practices in Mount Diwalwal.    From PDI Mindanao.

Mining Industry Hindered by Red Tape-Opposition Stiff Action

        The Philippine Government unlikely getting the upgraded target of $2.8 billion mining investment target for this year, particularly in light of ongoing industry concerns that have yet to be addressed.

        Philippines Chamber of Mines president Benjamin Philip Romualdez said more than $ 1 billion in investments for the year was a more feasible figure, given the current industry environment. "The government has to do its part. We can't just keep writing checks. It has to issue permits the mining companies needed,if it wants to get more investment." The Chamber president told reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Business Conference.

        The Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau last month hiked its investment target for the year 2011 to $2.8 billion from earlier projected $1.4 billion, in anticipation of the entry of Chinese investors into the industry within the year. Romualdez said, however, that thousands of permits had yet to be issued to mining firms, preventing them from operating in full force and plunking more investment into the country.

        To encourage the entry of more investments, the government should undertake "structural reforms" to correct fundamental errors that give rise to more flaws that cast a bad light on the Philippine mining industry. The fundamental, structural problem in the Philippine government. Some people calling for a review of the economic provisions of the Constitution. What is important is structural review. We cannot just make temporary remedy at the so-called fundamental flaws," he added.

       The ban on open pit mining in most provinces, which run against to the national government's thrust to encourage the inflow of more mining investors, was just one of the many problems that needed to be ironed out as soon as possible of time.

        The Department of Environment and Natural Resources should also speed its issuance of necessary permits to mining operators. While DENR committed to accelerate permit issuance, he said what the industry needed was action rather than mere commitments. The government should also help beef up the security at mining installations, in light of the attacks on mining firms in Claver, Surigao del Norte recently. In the event the police increased visibility in mining installations. The enhanced police presence give us renewed confidence, and we are thankful the police quick response during the attacks.

        The Chamber of Mines likewise look for the revival of the Minerals Council, to make coordination among stakeholders easily. With current set-up, where mining firms had to get in touch with at least 10 government departments and agencies just to get their operations off the ground. With Minerals Council at work all relevant stakeholders would be on hand to discuss issues that is important, effectively accelerating the consultation and permit-issuance process.

        The concerned secretaries agreed for the revival of the Minerals Council as a move for cooperation to mining companies in general.   atj
       
        

Philippines Welcome Miners not Polluters of Environment

Associated Press
Published in Yahoo News

Manila, Philippines(AP)-Philippine officials pledged support Wednesday for the mining industry as it undergoes a boom but warned companies they cannot dirty the environment, hide revenues or obtain mining permits only to raise fund on the stock market.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said mining is forecast to grow 17 percent this year, with the metal sector seen rising 24 percent. He said investments may reach $18 billion by 2016, nearly five fold the $3.8 billion over the last six years.

Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa said the country will ensure transparency in revenues by participating in the London-based Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative that requires companies and governments to publish what they pay and receive.

The officials spoke before a mining conference, where industry leaders appealed for more government support.

Philippines Open Pit Mining

The Philippines is the world's fifth most mineral rich country, with large reserves of minerals including gold, copper and nickel.

Benjamin Philip Romualdez, president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, said the local mining industry  is on the verge of its biggest boom in history as robust metal prices draw more local and foreign investors.
But he said a government moratorium on mining permits and a concerted campaign by environment activists against mining are threatening $14 billion to $20 billion in potential investments in the next five years.

Last year, investment reached $956 million and could have surpassed $1 billion had some projects not been delayed, he added. As we allow you to do mining in the Philippines ,we cannot allow you to pollute the environment. Environment Secretary Paje told the conference. Sec. Paje also clarified that the government has not suspended the issuance of permits but wants to first find out what happened to the 500 mining permits it has issued, where only 30 or 6 percent were in operation.
The Secretary said 94 percent of the permits have apparently been sold, traded or used to raise company shares in the stock market. "To those who want to do mining are welcome, to those who will not are not welcome,"he added.

Ochoa said the mining industry is considerably being investigated by various sectors because of the previous harm carelessness being done to the environment and remote communities elsewhere in the Philippines.
For the operator or miners to be acceptable, they must be guided by the principles of sustainable economic development, environmental protection be in place, social equity and of course good governance, Mr Ochoa added.

Commentary:  Mining should not be allowed by the present government unless the ruins of previous operation will be repaired. There were several mining sites that still needs to be rehabilitated in order to normalize the environment. The ruins of former mines had been left unattended and the implements still remains and getting rotten and it is not being cleared by the former mining operator.
The Open Pit mining is a menace to the environment and it cannot be repaired whatsoever. That will stay open on the face of the earth till the end of time. The land that surrounds them will not be arable anymore it cannot be used for farming for such a long time. Our government must be decisive and should formulate strict implementation of mining laws and guidelines with foreign mining operators. Foreign mining operators
who are blacklisted in their own country find ways to do their business here in the Philippine for they knew that they can bribe the government easily for they believe it is corrupt.

Shallow Open Pit Mining

Unknown Gold To Whom Does It Belong "Yamashita or Central Bank"?

Small Scale Gold Mining In The Philippines

Davao del Norte
Once known only as "Davao" is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. The capital is Tagum City in its border the province of Agusan del Sur to the north, Bukidnon to the west, Compostela Valley to the east, and the city of Davao to the south. Davao also includes Samal Island to the south in the Davao Gulf. The province of Compostela Valley used to be part of Davao until it was made into an independent province in 1988. Before 1967, the four provinces of Davao, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Compostela Valley were once a single province named Davao. The Davao Region covers this historic province.

Davao del Norte has a population of 743,811 as of the 2000 census,making it the country's 32nd most populated province. The population density is 215 per square kilometer. Main languages spoken are Bisaya and Davaoenio. Davao del Norte is primarily agricultural, but also engages in mining, forestry, and commercial fishing. The principal crops of the province include rice, corn, banana, coconut, abaca, ramie, coffee, variety of fruit and root crops. Davao del Norte is the country's leading producer of bananas, with many plantations run by multinationals such as; Dole Food Company, Del Monte, and local producers such as; Lapanday, TADECO and Marsman. Davao del Norte is also one of Mindanao's leading producer of rice.
Davao Gulf, to the south of the province, provides a living for many fishermen. Some of the fish products include brackish water milkfish, shrimp, and mud crabs; freshwater catfish and tilapia.

Davao del Norte is a major producer of Gold, and its mining products includes silica, copper and elemental sulfur. Small-scale gold mining activities thrive in several areas. There are also numerous active quarries of commercial quantities of gravel, sand, and pebbles for construction. Tourism is also a major part of the economy of Davao del Norte. There are lot of beaches on Samal Island, the most famous of which is Pearl Farm Beach Resort, is just a short boat ride from Davao City. The eleven(11) hectare resort  
was once a real pearl farm that cultivated oysters imported from the Sulu Sea, and produces some of the best pearls in the country. Now the white sand beach resort is a top tourist attraction in Davao del Norte with cottages inspired by Isamal native design.

Compostela, Compostela Valley
Compostela, is a 2nd Class municipality in the province of Compostela Valley, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 61, 667 people in 12, 151 households. Compostela is one of the municipalities that comprise the vast plains of Compostela Valley. Its development started before World War II when the area was still a forest and the only inhabitants were the native. Mandayas who chose to settle along the river banks of the compassionate Agusan River. There no written records as to how Compostela got its name. But, respectable residents believed that it was a temporay Spanish settlements, a "Campo de Castila" of Spanish that came from the Eastern Coast of Davao Oriental. Another version is that a Spanish friar from the East Coast came to the place bringing with him a statue of Senior Santiago de Apostol, patron saint of his birthplace Compostela, Spain and thus named the place Compostela.
Before the outbreak of World War II, Compostela Valley was one of the Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes of Mindanao. The office at Dansalan, Lanao under the directorship of Teofisto Guingona, Sr. who was then exercising government control over provinces and municipal districts of Mindanao. However, the bureau was abolished right after the war. The valley was then formed into Compostela-Monkayo Districts and subdivided into three small districts; Monkayo, Compostela and Camansa. Compostela was governed by Mr. Bonifacio Garcia as the district Mayor appointed by the Governor of Davao which during that time was still one province with the Capitol at Davao City. Local government functions were performed by the governor and the district mayors were only ceremonial leaders....to be continued   

Rogelio Roxas (Additional on Roxas Story)

Rogelio "Roger" Domingo Roxas (died May 25, 1993) was a former Filipino soldier who had work as a locksmith before allegedly discovering in a cave north of Manila a hidden chamber full of gold bars and a Golden Buddha statue-which Roxas estimated to weighs one metric ton on a plot of state-owned land near Baguio General Hospital, in Baguio City on January 24, 1971. Roxas claimed that the Buddha's head was removable and that it concealed a hollowed-out portion within the statue that contained at least two handfuls of uncut diamonds. The cache was alleged to be a portion of the legendary Yamashita treasure.

The Seizure of Gold

On April 5, 1971, Roxas claimed that armed men purportedly from the National Bureau Investigation (N.B.I.) forcibly confiscated the gold bars and statue from his home in Aurora Hills, Baguio City. On April 19, 1971 the military deposited a Buddha statue at the Baguio City Court; however, Roxas proclaimed that it was not the same statue taken from him. Roxas later claimed that then-President Ferdinand Marcos orchestrated the raid and was in possession of the treasure. Roxas was arrested in Cabanatuan City by three men in civilian clothing on May 18, 1971 and jailed for several years. (more on Yamashita treasure)....

The Loot of Luzon : Luzon is the Philippines biggest island and is located to the North. (The article written by) Mike Tharp; Shortly before his trial for war crimes, Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita was asked what was the main cause of Japan's defeat. according to John Dower a historian, the general "responded with the only answer what he know in English word in the whole interview and that is "Science". Science as it turns out, has almost nothing to do his personal character. As it was told, Emperor Hirohito had commanded him to hide tons of gold and other treasures in a maze of bomb-trapped Philippine tunnels, the treasure that supposedly used to restore Japan in rebuilding from the ruins of war for they foresee it's nearing defeat from the Allied Forces. Historians had not found the most concrete evidence of the Yamashita treasure, but the story had just appear to have a life of its own. After from the long time of hiding the general had get out of his hiding place in the mountains of Sierra Madre and the Cordillera and surrendered to the U.S. Forces. According to some historians Yamashita concealed the gold and the treasures in small quantity as he transferred from place to place in the Philippine islands for hiding prior to his surrender. Some say that portion of the treasure were shipped to Japan but was unable to reached due to relentless bombing by the Allied Forces among vessels that is trying to sail towards Japan.

Related Events: Until now, many Filipinos still believed that fragments of Yamashita treasure still exist in different places of the Philippines. In Negros Island alone there were so many places where Japanese individuals financed the search of the treasure encouraged by the local former guerilla. Normally the diggings were done during night time to evade the activity to onlookers. In Silay city according to some witnesses that the diggings were done on the highway in route to the city but, it was done during night time. Complete motorized heavy machinery were employed to do it faster. the road were paved during the morning as if nothing had been moved except for the road sign "wet cement". 

In another occasion the road to Canlaon City was rerouted for a few days and heavy machines arrived to build a bridge as a ploy to their diggings of treasure. When the box was found containing what they were looking the constructions was rushed by the Japanese contractor. Local resident still can pinpoint where the box was taken. It was just along the bank on the side of the road. the contents of the box was not known. It was hurriedly loaded to a waiting dump truck was driven to nowhere nobody could tell where it went with the box. By this event in Negros many local treasure hunters were enhanced to find part of the treasure causing to some accident that put them into dangers. Others were buried alive while digging on the spot were they decided. For those who did not saw it was very doubtful to believed. But, for those who witnessed some successful diggings by the Japanese it was hard to ignore the story and the secrets of Yamashita treasure. 

Rogelio Roxas (additional story)

                    Rogelio Roxas Lawsuit

In March 1988, a Filipino treasure hunter named Rogelio Roxas filed a lawsuit in the state of Hawaii against former president of the Philippines, Ferdinand E. Marcos and his wife Imelda R. Marcos(who is now a congresswoman of Ilocos)for theft and human rights abuses. Roxas claimed the in Baguio City in 1961 he met the son of a former member of the Japanese Army who mapped for him the location of the legendary Yamashita Treasure. Roxas claimed a second man, who served as Yamashita's interpreter during the Second World War, told him of visiting an underground chamber where there were stores of gold and silver were kept, and who told of a Golden Buddha kept at a convent located near the underground chambers. Roxas claimed that within the next few years he formed a group to search for the treasure, and obtained a permit for the purpose from a relative of Ferdinand Marcos, judge Pio Marcos. In 1971, Roxas claimed, he and his group uncovered an enclosed chamber on state lands near Baguio City where he found bayonets, samurai swords, radio, and skeletal remains dressed in a Japanese military uniform. Also found in the chamber, Roxas claimed, where a 3-foot high (0.91m) golden colored Buddha and numerous stacked crates which filled an area approximately 6ft x 6ft x 35ft. He claimed he opened just one of the boxes, and found it packed with gold bullion. He said he took from the chamber Golden Buddha, which he estimated to weigh 1,000 kilograms, and one box with twenty-four gold bars, and hid them in his home. He claimed he resealed the chamber for safekeeping until he could arrange the removal of the remaining boxes, which he suspected were also filled with gold bars. Roxas said he sold seven of the gold bars from the opened box, and sought potential buyers for the Golden Buddha.Two individuals representing prospective buyers examined and tested the metal in the Buddha, Roxas said, and reported it was made of solid, 20 carat gold. It was soon after this, Roxas claimed, that former President Ferdinand Marcos learned of Roxas' discovery and order him arrested, beaten, and the Golden Buddha and remaining gold seized. Roxas alleged that in retaliation to his vocal campaign to reclaim the Buddha and the remainder of the treasure taken from him, Ferdinand Marcos continued to have Roxas threatened, beaten and eventually incarcerated for over a year. (The Philippines was in Martial Law during that time).

Following his release, Roxas put his claims against Marcos on hold until Mr. Marcos lost the presidency in 1986. But in 1988, Roxas and the Golden Buddha Corporation, which now held the ownership rights to the treasure Roxas claims was stolen from him, he filed suit against Ferdinand Marcos and her wife Imelda in a Hawaiian state court seeking damages for the theft and the surrounding human rights abuses committed against Roxas. Roxas died on the eve of trial, but prior to his death he gave the deposition testimony that would be later used in evidence. In 1996, the Roxas estate and the Golden Buddha Corporation received what was then largest jugment ever awarded in history, $22 billion which with interest increased to $40.5 billion. In 1998, The Hawaiian Supreme Court held that there was sufficient evidence to support the jury's findings that Roxas found the treasure and that Marcos converted it....to be continued.

Amazon My Business

Philippines Treasure Hunting Gold Mining

Yamashita Treasure

General Tomoyuki Yamashita

Yamashita Treasure also known as the Yamashita's Gold, is the name given to the alleged war loot stolen in Southeast Asia by Japanese forces during World War II and hidden in caves, tunnels and underground complexes in the Philippines. It is named for the Japanese general Tomoyuki Yamashita, nicknamed "The Tiger of Malaya". Though accounts that the treasure remains hidden in the Philippines have lured treasure hunters from around the world for over fifty years, its existence is discounted by most experts. The rumored treasure has been the subject of a complex lawsuit that was filed in the Hawaiian state court in 1988 involving a Filipino treasure hunter and the former Philippine president. Prominent among those arguing for the existence of Yamashita's gold are Sterling Seagrave and Peggy Seagrave, who have written two books relating to the subject: The Yamato Dynasty: The Secret History of Japan's Imperial Family(2000) and Gold Warriors: America's Secret Recovery of Yamashita's Gold (2003). The Seagraves contend that looting was organized on a massive scale, by booth yakuza gangsters such as Yoshio Kodama, and the highest levels of Japanese   society, including Emperor Hirohito. The Japanese government intended that the loot from Southeast Asia would finance Japan's war effort. The Seagraves alleged that Hirohito appointed his brother, Prince Yasuhito Chichibu, to head a secret organization called Kin no yuri ("Golden Lily"), for this purpose. It is purported that many of those who knew the locations of the loot were killed during the the war, or later tried by  the Allies for war crimes and executed or incarcerated. Yamashita himself executed by the U.S. Army for his war crimes on February 23, 1946.

      The stolen property reportedly included many different kinds of valuables looted from banks, depositories, temples, churches, other commercial premises, mosque, museums and private homes. It takes its name from General Tomoyuki Yamashita, who assumed command of Japanese forces in the Philippines in 1944.

     According to various accounts, the loot was initially concentrated in Singapore, and later transported to the Philippines. The Japanese hoped to ship the treasure from the Philippines to the Japanese Home Islands after the war ended. As the War in the Pacific progressed, U.S. Navy submarines and Allied warplanes inflicted increasingly heavy sinkings of Japanese Merchant shipping. Some of the ships carrying the war booty back to Japan were sunk in combat.

      The Seagraves and the few others have claimed that American Military Intelligence Operatives located much of the loot; they colluded with Hirohito and other senior Japanese figures to conceal its existence, and; they used it to finance American covert intelligence operations around the world during the Cold War. These rumors have inspired many hopefuls treasure hunters, but most experts and Filipino historians say there is no credible evidence behind these claims.

      Many individuals and cosortia, both Philippine and foreign, continue to search sites. A number of accidental deaths, injuries and financial losses incurred by treasure hunters have been reported.

At present, the Mines and Geo Sciences Bureau of the Department of Natural Resources of the Philippines is the Philippine government agency that grants treasure permits.

      University of the Philippines professor Rico Jose has questioned the theory that treasure from mainland South East Asia was transported to the Philippines: By 1943 the Japanese were no longer in control of the seas. "It does not make sense to bring in something that valuable here when you know it is going to be lost to the Americans anyway. The more rational thing would have been send it to Taiwan or China".

      Philippines National Historical Institute chairman and historian Ambeth Ocampo commented: "Two of the wealth myths I usually encounter are the Yamashita treasure and gossip that the Cojuangco fortune was founded on a bag of money..." Ocampo also said: "For the past 50 years many people, both Filipinos and foreigners, have spent their time, money and energy in search of Yamashita's elusive treasure."

                                Yamashita' s Gold in Popular Culture:

* Yamashita's gold, though not mentioned by that name, serves as a major plot element of Cryptonomicon, a   novel by Neal Stephenson.

* A film about the alleged treasure, Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure, directed by Chito S. Ronio was released in the Philippines in 2001.

* An episode of the American TV series Unsolved Mysteries, first broadcast on American TV on January 27, 1993, discussed the fate of the loot that has supposedly been amassed by Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita

* The latter part of the console game Medal of Honor: Rising Sun is about the gold.

* Yamashita's gold serves as a plot element of Dragon, a novel by Clive Cussler.

* The Malaysian movie, Scenario: Pemburu Emas Yamashita tells about Yamashita's hidden gold in a cave in      the Malaysian jungle.

* Ore or Or, a play by Duncan Pflaster uses Yamashita's gold as a metaphor for the love, lives of the modern-day characters, one of whom is trying to determine if a crate of of Golden Statues uncovered in the Philippines was part of Yamashita's hoard or not.

* Yamashita's Gold was featured in an episode of a Philippine Television Show I-Witness entitled,"Ginto"(gold).

* The Mystery of Yamashita's Map, (2007 Hardcover)(2009 Paperback), a novel written by James McKenzie tells the story of a group of treasure hunters who go in search of Yamashita's gold. 

* A TV show, " Yamashita's Treasure" was aired by Singapore's Media, Mediacorp in 2010....more