VIRAC, Catanduanes, Feb. 17, (PIA) - House Bill No. 670, authored by Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento of Catanduanes lone district, was finally approved third and final reading garnering a vote of 211-0 providing the ban on mining in the island province of Catanduanes.
House Bill No. 670 pursues declaration of the island province a mining-free zone. Similar bill filed by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez was also okayed for Cagayan de Oro.
The bill when fully ratified into law will prohibit “extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth and shall include such mining activities as exploration, feasibility, development, utilization and processing, and large-scale quarry operations involving cement raw materials, marble, granite, sand and gravel construction aggregates.
It clarified, however, that quarrying of gravel and sand for projects directly undertaken by national government agencies or the affected local government unit is exempted subject to existing mining and environment laws.
The law also provides imprisonment of six to 12 years and a fine of P100, 000 to P500, 000 awaits violators.
Sarmiento expressed optimism that the Senate is likewise expected to approve the bill and the President to enact the the bill into law.
DENR, under the proposed law on the other hand, is mandated to promulgate the bill’s implementing rules and regulations.
Sarmiento meanwhile disclosed during a press conference every municipality will be equipped with a lighthouse facility following information from Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) representatives Commodore Gilbert Rueras and Lt. Fernandez of the Marine Safety Services Command where the latter reported the agency's proposed construction of lighthouse stations.
From the current eight lighthouses, an additional of five will be constructed in Palumbanes Island, Caramoran, Bagamanoc and Gigmoto.
According to Sarmiento, construction of the said facility will provide navigational aid to ships and fishing vessels as well as guidance to the local fishermen at sea.
The solon also bared that he will refile a bill formerly filed in the 15th Congress declaring Puraran- the province’s surfing site as a tourist destination to allow more funding from the national government for the continuous improvement of the place’s tourism facilities.
He also informed local media last week that representatives from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) visited different towns of the province for possible fish landing projects for ports in various towns. (MAL/EAB-PIA5/PIA Catanduanes)
House Bill No. 670 pursues declaration of the island province a mining-free zone. Similar bill filed by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez was also okayed for Cagayan de Oro.
The bill when fully ratified into law will prohibit “extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth and shall include such mining activities as exploration, feasibility, development, utilization and processing, and large-scale quarry operations involving cement raw materials, marble, granite, sand and gravel construction aggregates.
It clarified, however, that quarrying of gravel and sand for projects directly undertaken by national government agencies or the affected local government unit is exempted subject to existing mining and environment laws.
The law also provides imprisonment of six to 12 years and a fine of P100, 000 to P500, 000 awaits violators.
Sarmiento expressed optimism that the Senate is likewise expected to approve the bill and the President to enact the the bill into law.
DENR, under the proposed law on the other hand, is mandated to promulgate the bill’s implementing rules and regulations.
Sarmiento meanwhile disclosed during a press conference every municipality will be equipped with a lighthouse facility following information from Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) representatives Commodore Gilbert Rueras and Lt. Fernandez of the Marine Safety Services Command where the latter reported the agency's proposed construction of lighthouse stations.
From the current eight lighthouses, an additional of five will be constructed in Palumbanes Island, Caramoran, Bagamanoc and Gigmoto.
According to Sarmiento, construction of the said facility will provide navigational aid to ships and fishing vessels as well as guidance to the local fishermen at sea.
The solon also bared that he will refile a bill formerly filed in the 15th Congress declaring Puraran- the province’s surfing site as a tourist destination to allow more funding from the national government for the continuous improvement of the place’s tourism facilities.
He also informed local media last week that representatives from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) visited different towns of the province for possible fish landing projects for ports in various towns. (MAL/EAB-PIA5/PIA Catanduanes)
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