While it may seem that the overall development is like a stand off , it is still a victory to the people and the mining that is dreaded and feared was stopped in their tracks.
When the Sanggunian Panlalawigan of Leyte passed a resolution halting the mining activities of Strongbuilt Mining Company in Maya, MacArthur, it was more than just a bureaucratic act. It was a declaration that the voice of the people matters, and that the environment is not a commodity to be traded away for short-term profit.
The Dredging Barge was stopped from crossing and the people rejoiced!
Resolutions from local legislative bodies aimed at stopping the crossing of the Barge that would be the mining equipment was carried and implemented . It may not carry the immediate force of a court order, but they are powerful statements of collective will. In this case, the provincial board’s action sends a clear message: the welfare of communities and the preservation of natural resources must come first. Here are the good things;
• Environmental Safeguard: Mining in coastal and agricultural areas threatens soil fertility, water systems, and marine life. The resolution acts as a protective shield, buying time to assess long-term impacts.
• Community Empowerment: It validates the concerns of farmers, fisherfolk, and residents who have long opposed extractive industries in their town. Their protests are no longer whispers in the wind—they are now echoed in official policy.
• Accountability: The resolution pressures regulatory agencies to revisit permits, compliance reports, and environmental safeguards. It reminds national authorities that local governments are not passive spectators but active guardians of their land.
A resolution is a beginning, not an end. To ensure lasting protection, several steps must follow:
• Stronger Monitoring: Local governments must coordinate with the DENR and MGB to ensure mining companies adhere to environmental standards.
• Community-Based Alternatives: Investment in sustainable industries—such as eco-tourism, agriculture, and fisheries—can provide livelihoods without sacrificing the environment.
• Legal Reinforcement: The resolution should pave the way for ordinances or even national legislation that permanently restrict destructive mining in vulnerable areas.
• Public Vigilance: Citizens must remain watchful. Resolutions can be overturned, but a united community can resist backsliding.
While it may seem that the overall development is like a stand off, it is still a victory to the people and the mining that is dreaded and feared was stopped in their tracks.
