The town council of Dupax del Norte has passed a resolution ordering the immediate cancellation of ongoing mining exploration in the town.
In its official statement, the council also announced its approval of an ordinance imposing a 50-year moratorium on all large- and small-scale mining applications.
“As one voice, the governing body has duly acted to promulgate a measure calling the immediate cancellation of the mining exploration,” the statement reads.
The ordinance covers exploration permits, mineral agreements, and Financial or Technical Assistance Agreements (FTAA), with penalties for violations.
The council emphasized that the decision was not an anti-progress stance, but rather a stance for balance.
“We choose a progress that protects, livelihood that lasts, and a development that does not destroy,” it said, adding that the local government was committed to safeguarding land and resources for future generations.
Review pushed
According to the town council, the stand was delayed not out of neglect but due to the need for careful study.
Local legislators said they reviewed environmental impact reports, consulted with defense councils, and listened to affected residents before adopting their final position.
By grounding their decision in evidence and collective wisdom, the council said it sought to establish a “strong and credible” case for rejecting mining operations.
The Sangguniang Bayan reaffirmed its guiding principle of “public service above self” and vowed to continue defending the interests of the people of Dupax del Norte.
The Vice Mayor, together with the Sangguniang Bayan member,s emphasized that while development and progress are welcome, they must always be pursued within the framework of justice, sustainability, and the rule of law,” they said.
Recognizing the concerns raised by the people and weighing the possible impact of the operation, the body agreed that decisive action must be taken lawful, fair, and responsive to the community’s needs,” the officials added.
Broader Opposition
The move follows similar opposition expressed earlier by other local institutions in Nueva Vizcaya.
Earlier, the Diocese of Bayombong, led by Bishop Elmer Mangalinao, issued a pastoral statement rejecting the proposed mining operations in Dupax del Norte.
The Church warned that mining would bring “irreversible harm to the environment” and undermine the health, food security, and future of local communities.
Likewise, the barangay council of Oyao, a remote upland village in Dupax del Norte, passed a resolution opposing the entry of mining firms into its territory.
The local council denounced exploration activities as a threat to their ancestral land, agriculture, and water sources, joining calls for the government to block mining applications in the area. (MELVIN C. GASCON | KODAO PRODUCTIONS)
