The South Cotabato Provincial Capitol Building (Photo courtesy of South Cotabato PIO)
KORONADAL CITY – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) will be conducting a consultation dialogue on February 18 on the proposed amendments to the Environment Code of the Province of South Cotabato, particularly on the provision lifting the ban on open-pit mining in Tampakan town.
In a statement Thursday, Vice Governor Vicente De Jesus, SP presiding officer, said they have invited for the event all the mayors in the province, former board members who framed the ordinance, business and youth sectors, farmers, professionals, and other sectoral representatives.
De Jesus said members of the provincial board have unanimously agreed to conduct the public hearing before voting for amendments.
“The purpose is to raise the issue and to help the board members to decide either to vote yes or no,” De Jesus said.
“Hopefully we will be hearing not only the sentiments of the people but also vital technical information that will help the board to decide,” he added.
De Jesus is also inviting residents of other municipalities to participate in another public hearing for the particular ordinance at the South Cotabato Sports Complex in Koronadal City on February 24.
“Due to budget constraints we can't conduct public hearings in all ten municipalities in the province,” he said.
Ordinance 04, Series of 2010, entitled “An Ordinance Providing for the Environment Code of the Province of South Cotabato,” was approved on June 9, 2010.
Its validity was affirmed by the SP in 2015 through a resolution entitled “A Resolution Affirming the Validity of Section 22(b) of Ordinance No. 04 Series of 2010," or “The South Cotabato Environment Code” which was approved on June 30, 2015.
Pro-mining groups have said the open-pit mining ban in South Cotabato hampered the development of the copper and gold mine project in Tampakan, touted as the largest in Southeast Asia.
The Sagittarius Mines Inc. in Tampakan has been pursuing the project for years. (PNA)
