Tribe leaders tell DENR chief of bribery, fraud by mining firm
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–Local officials and tribal leaders in an upland town here on Wednesday revealed to visiting Environment Secretary Lito Atienza the alleged bribery and deception committed by workers of an Australian company trying to explore their lands.
In a dialogue with Atienza, Kasibu Mayor Romeo [...]
Payola from gambling strong come-on for village, SK bets
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–The continued operation of the illegal numbers game “jueteng” here has made posts in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan tempting, with candidates expecting to be beneficiaries of the supposed payoffs given to local officials, sources said Monday.
Voters expressed disgust over the large number of candidates [...]
Move to oust mining firms gains ground in Vizcaya
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–The campaign against large-scale mining intensified here after the provincial board on Wednesday moved to oust two foreign companies that tried to operate gold-copper mining projects in two upland towns.
In a resolution, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to stop the exploration activities of [...]
DENR chief gets rebuff over Nueva Vizcaya mining
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — A unified call from local officials, church leaders and residents to reject three mining projects in the province greeted the visit here of Environment Secretary Lito Atienza on Wednesday.
Catholic Bishop Ramon Villena, along with tribal folk from upland Kasibu town, asked Atienza to [...]
N. Vizcaya tribal folk score anew vs foreign mining firm
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–Tribal communities in upland Kasibu town scored another victory against a giant foreign-owned company Monday after a court here dismissed the injunction suit the firm lodged against villagers who have been opposing the firm’s planned mining exploration in the area.
Judge Jose Godofredo Naui of [...]
Crackdown fails to drive out N. Vizcaya small miners
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–Government agencies launched a crackdown on illegal mining this week, but this has failed to drive out small miners from their tunnels in Kasibu town, according to reports reaching this writer.
Residents said about 200 small-scale miners had gone back to reopen the tunnels in Barangay [...]
Arroyo OKs move to bring POEA closer to Cagayan Valley
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved the establishment of a satellite office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in Cagayan Valley, Catholic Bishop Ramon Villena said Friday.
Villena, who heads the regional development council (RDC) of Cagayan Valley, said Arroyo, over lunch [...]
Gov’t launches crackdown vs N. Vizcaya small miners
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–Government has stepped up its campaign against illegal mining in the province by launching a crackdown against small-scale miners in an upland village in Kasibu town, to make way for the entry of an foreign firm that is trying to start large-scale mining operations there.
Clarence Baguilat, [...]
Local execs, NGOs defend anti-mining Vizcaya mayor
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya–Town officials and non-government organizations (NGOs) on Monday defended the mayor of an upland town here and denounced a foreign mining firm for allegedly harassing people opposed to mining operations in the province.
Colleagues of Kasibu Mayor Romeo Tayaban have crossed party lines to assail the contempt charges [...]
