TALIBON – Environment authorities have recommended to put a brake to a ‘ gold rush' in an uptown location here and advised prospectors to pursue the possession of for legal permits involving these mines for taxation, and for environmental, health and safety purposes. This came on the heels of reports that that “clandestine” gold extractions in make-shift tunnels thrive here without legal permit from authorities, according to the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO). The Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR and BEMO are batting for this requirement and others such as the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) or area clearance as gold rush is said to be “proliferating” in the hinterland barangay of Magsaysay and neighboring areas. There was no immediate confirmation from authorities concerned how much gold ores are deposited here.

But gold mining here has been operating in a small-scale level for so long a time already. Edgardo Loquellano, MGB scientific engineer III, said in an interview, that based on his information he gathered, there are now four small-scale gold miners He said that per information he received that the miners are there for “hand-to-mouth” survival because no much gold are dug up. Loquellano said the miners concerned should apply for permits for small-scale extraction like what they are doing now. He added that based on the law, it is the provincial governor who will issue such permits. This way, the LGUs can earn income from said extraction and other licenses fees. The fees collected shall be shared in accordance with the Local Government Code . The barangay where the mining is located can have 40% share and the municipality and province shall have 30% apiece. Loquellano said MGB with the BEMO will soon conduct an ocular inspection of the said area were the gold pits are located to assess the situation. For the moment, BEMO recommends that gold mine operations “should be ordered stopped.” (RVO)