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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on December 17, 2009

Cantilan town residents celebrate 30th day vigil against mining

CANTILAN, SURIGAO DEL SUR—In a simple rite yesterday, Dec. 16, residents of Cantilan town in the province of Surigao del Sur celebrated the 30th day of their vigilance against the mining operation of Marcventures Mining Development Corporation (MMDC).

Since November 16, residents of Cantilan town have set up a makeshift tent, which doubles as a checkpoint, at Triangle Junction in this town to prevent MMDC from transporting mineral ores to the nearby wharf.

Inside the makeshift tent, Sister Lydia Lascano, ICM, coordinator of the Social Action Center of Tandag said that the mining operation in the neighboring town of Carrascal is a concrete evidence of how mining ruined the lives and livelihood of the local people.

The coordinator of the Social Action Center of Tandag said: "Our rich coastal sanctuaries (in Carrascal) are already silted. Our water and irrigations are murky."

For her part, Cantilan mayor Tomasa Guardo said: "We have vast tracts of rice fields and abundant marine resources. These are our gold in Cantilan, not the ore beneath our rich agricultural lands."

Tinty Irriberi, acting president of Baywatch Foundation described the vigil as a 24⁄7 commitment of the local people.

The acting president of Baywatch Foundation said: "We will be here until the mining permit of MMDC is canceled. We already filed a cancellation of MMDC’s MPSA permit in the office of the Secretary of DENR last June 24, 2009, but until today we have not received any letter from the said office."

Report from Carl Cesar C. Rebuta, Team Leader of LRC–CdO–Regional Office

Related Article:

Cantilan town residents prevent mining firm to transport mineral ore

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