FROM Sta. Cruz in the north to Subic in the south, mining is once again becoming an issue in Zambales despite very official pronouncements that the provincial government will not allow this activity.

In Sta. Cruz, the Concerned Citizens of Santa Cruz, Zambales (CCOS) recently petitioned the Court of Appeals (CA) for the issuance of a Writ of Kalikasan with temporary environmental protection order (Tepo) against all mining operations in the province.

However, the court struck down the petition, ruling that the closure order issued by then-Environment Secretary Gina Lopez against the operations of the five mining companies in the province had rendered the petition moot and academic. With this, residents fear that the “unsystematic” mining operations that have thus far caused soil, water and air pollution in Sta. Cruz and destroyed the livelihood of residents there, may return with a vengeance.

In San Felipe, the National Bureau of Investigation had arrested nine Chinese and one Indonesian involved in what was purported to be dredging and desilting operations at the mouth of the Sto. Tomas river. The NBI said the operations lacked authorization. Some residents suspected that the dredging was just a front for illegal black sand mining. But Gov. Amor Deloso categorically said the operators had the necessary permits, and thus his blessings.

In Subic, meanwhile, there were revelations coming from some town officials that persons representing a mining company had tried to bribe the municipal council in return for the approval of a proposed jade mining project. Reports have it that the council, led by the vice mayor, had turned down the offer. But the mining proponent had reportedly succeeded in getting the nod of the barangay (albeit without consultation with residents) and even the local environment office by passing off the mining project as quarrying.

Only last year, we remember clearly that Gov. Deloso’s first act upon retaking the Capitol was to issue an executive order seeking to stop all mining operations in Zambales “effective immediately.”

Was this all forgotten now?