[ Manila Bulletin Online ] April 2, 2008
STA. CRUZ, Zambales — Residents of this seaside town have sent out an urgent appeal to the national government to stop the destruction to their environment by a mining company, which destroyed their forests and stripped the earth of its top soil, local officials said.
Sta. Cruz Mayor Luisito Marty said hundreds of residents along the shorelines and inner villages have complained against the operation of Benguet Corp., which turned the once green environment into a wasteland of barren oil.
"Dust from the loose soil covers wide areas in summer and it turns into mud when it rains,’’ Marty said. "Massive environmental disturbance continues without let-up.’’
Sta. Cruz is one of the coastal towns of Zambales facing the South China Sea. It is rich in deposits of nickel and other minerals.
Local officials complained that the mine sites were located in areas that have been declared as tourism spots.
Marty said the mining operations have hampered water flow and in many areas the streams and rivers have dried up because of mine tailings.
"The dust and fumes from diesel trucks and loss of vegetation have put the health of many residents at risk,’’ he said.
Danilo Merced, barangay captain of Lomboy, the main site of Benguet’s operation, said they were told that the company only had an "exploration’’ permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
He said the government should step in and stop the destruction of their environment and penalize those responsible for the illegal mining operations.
Benguet’s access to the mine runs across Barangay Tubo-tubo North, one of the town’s tourist attractions with a beautiful waterfall.
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