PALO, Leyte, Philippines — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Eastern Visayas has recommended to the national government closure of small-scale mining operations in Eastern Samar.

MGB Regional Director Roger De Dios told reporters in an interview at his office here that MGB-8 has already submitted said recommendation to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) national office for the cancellation of permits and closure of small scale mining in Eastern Samar last month following reports of pollution in areas where such activity exists.

De Dios said the mining permits were issued by local executives and that the role of his office is only to extend technical assistance to the mining operations.

He lamented that chromite small-scale mining operations in Guiuan, Salcedo, Quinapundan, General McArthur, Hernani and Llorente in Eastern Samar do not guarantee responsible mining, environmental protection and rehabilitation. “The mining operations are causing pollution in many areas and it is very hard to control the people in mining sites. In some instances politics play a dominant role that hinders implementation of environmental laws, and the proper operations in the mining sites to mitigate, if not control pollution,” he said.

De Dios admitted that pollution in the area has caused adverse environmental impacts and has affected marine life.

Just recently, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ office in the region (BFAR-8), based in Tacloban City, has issued a warning on the recurrence of red tide in Matarinao Bay, Eastern Samar.