Emergency Employment Program for displaced ball-mill operators in Mt. Diwalwal

Davao de Oro Province---When the movement “Lihok Alang sa Naboc” started its operation to rehabilitate the polluted Naboc River, where for over 25 years served as a catchment basin for all waste coming from mining operations in Mt. Diwalwal, more or less 300 small mineral processing plant operations were ceased, temporarily displacing one of the residents’ source of income.

It can be recalled that an intervention has been made relocating them to a proper site in Mabatas Area wherein their operations can take place as the zone has a containment facility preventing direct discharge of waste to the river.

With this, another intervention was made through the initiative of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) under the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its Emergency Employment Program, giving jobs to former ball-mill operators and employees.

A total of 136 former operators availed the program with a daily wage of Php 396.00. The said program lasted for 20 days with a budget of more or less 1.1 million pesos from DOLE. Pay out for their wages will be thru MLhullier estimated to be released on June 25, 2020 onwards.

To date, ball-mills were transferred in the Mabatas Area wherein they can resume their operations without sacrificing the Naboc River. (Jasteen Abella, ID DAVAO DE ORO)

Naboc River rehabilitation continues

Davao de Oro Province--- After awarding the principal dredgers with their permits for dredging the Naboc River last February 13, 2020 the Naboc River is now starting to rebuild its youth and restore its natural state as what it is before.

Almost three decades when the inhabitants of Mt. Diwalwal started to mine gold reserves and practice using small-scale mineral processing plants and now finally, Naboc River was given justice. The mercury content and high fecal coliform count in the river doesn’t solely affect the province of Davao de Oro, but also other provinces who rely on the river in terms of irrigation needs in farming and other agricultural matters.

Due to the activation of the Task Force Naboc River and the implementation of the cease and desist order, the original figure of operators for small scale-mineral processing plants were continuously shredding off. Out of 390 operators, there are only 130 who were found to be operating and will surely be stopped and transferred to the Mabatas Area, which means more than half were following what is strictly implemented.

Three weeks ago, five individuals in Mt. Diwalwal were caught by the Philipine National Police (PNP). They were still operating in Mt. Diwaldawal resisting the order imposed by the government which is strictly prohibited. "Nakasabot ang lokal nga pang-gobyerno nga ilaha kining panginabuhian ug temporaryo kini nga naundang, ang amung intervention nga gipropose sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) nga mahatagan sila ug ayuda alang sa atung mga displaced workers karung higayona didto sa Diwalwal, " said Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy

The provincial government of Davao de Oro would like to appeal for a better and faster cooperation with the residents of Mt. Diwalwal. Direct cooperation in terms of transferring the operations from Mt. Diwalwal to the Mabatas Area would lessen the chance of completely killing Naboc river and operators can operate again in the preferred area for it has a containment facility preventing direct discharge of wastes in the river.

The movement doesn't concretely mean to stop the bread and butter of the people of Diwalwal. It aims to establish a practice and a mindset who prioritizes the sake of the majority in a sustainable manner. (Jasteen Abella, ID DAVAO DE ORO)

Photocaption- On March 5, 2020 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Davao City, Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy of Davao de Oro province guested the press conference of the Philippine Information Agency Region XI. Among the discussed topics were the updates on the progress of the Naboc River rehabilitation, development of Davao de Oro in relation to the plebiscite held, sustaining peace and stability in the province and  ASF and Covid-2019 effects on Davao de Oro's tourism. (photos by Rey Antibo)

We have one common goal

Monkayo Mayor Gentugaya on saving Naboc: "We have one common goal" 

"We have one common goal - to clean the Naboc River. Win-win solution ang gusto nato."

Monkayo Mayor Ramil Gentugaya emphasized his conviction to clean the Naboc River during the Diwalwal Mining Reservation Area (DMRA) Information Summit on August 9, 2018 at Monkayo Dome, Poblacion, Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province.

“Duha na ka SONA niya (President Duterte) gihisgutan ang Monkayo, di nata musugot nga mahisgotan pa ta’g katulo,”  Mayor Gentugaya added.

The summit with the theme, "Save the Naboc River" is attended by 1,000 participants from five barangays in Monkayo, namely; Brgy. Mt. Diwata, Brgy. Upper Ulip, Brgy. Tubo-tubo, Brgy. Salvacion and Brgy. Naboc. Residents from Brgy. Manggayon in Compostela were also present.

Years of irresponsible waste disposal, particularly of cyanide and mercury, resulted to the contamination of the Naboc River which affects the health of the residents and the agricultural production in the said barangays.

With the regionalized Task Force Naboc River, the task force aims to rehabilitate the  Naboc River, just like the island of Boracay.

Comval Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy assures his support to the program saying, “Ang atong tumong niini nga ma refresh ta sa plano sa gobyerno last 2012 ni na approve sa NEDA o sa National Economic Division Authority.  Kay aron mahatagan og saktong panginabuhi ang atoang mga constituents dinhi at the same time ma protektahan ang atoang environment.”

Presently, the provincial government of Comval in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and University of the Philippines (UP), is having an ongoing parallel testing using the Community Led Integrated Non-Cyanide Non-Mercury Gold Extraction Method (CLINN – GEM) at the Integrated Gold Copper Mineral Processing Plant in Brgy. Katipunan, Nabunturan. (Sheldane Mahinay // ID Comval)

The Program Monitoring and Coordination Center conducted Diwalwal Mining Reservation Area (DMRA) Information Summit on August 9, 2018 at Monkayo Dome, Poblacion, Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province. Discussions include the DMRA Development Plan, Status of Naboc River, Ill Effects of the Chemicals Used by Mining Operators, and Naboc River Action Plan.  (Maryel Lasaca // ID Comval)