DALISAY CAMOTE SMALL SCALE MINERS STEP UP LIVELIHOOD, ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS
ITOGON, Benguet
In span of two years (2022-2023), more than 2,000 coffee arabica trees have been planted by 300 pocket miners
belonging to Dalisay Camote Miners Association (DCMA), together with their families across their ‘mining areas’ and
surrounding communities. In an interview, Laurence Gumad-ang, president of DCMA said their action, mainly to sustain their economic survival, and as an alternative source of livelihood following the ban against small scale
mining was issued in 2018 by then environment secretary Roy Cimatu, an aftermath of the ‘killer’ landslide in this town.
He added the coffee trees, now stand more than five-feet tall with survivality rate of 70 percent were sourced from the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera. He said his group has suffered financial burdens since the ban against small scale mining was issued in 2018 by then environment secretary Roy Cimatu, an aftermath of the ‘killer’ landslide in this town. On June 25, a number of their members led by their group leaders, and an estimated 100 individuals from the youth and women sectors supported the coffee planting initiative of Benguet Corp. at Sitio Bongalo.
It covered five hectares, an annual activity by said private mining company in support to national government as well
as the provincial and local government unit environmental programs. ‘We just do our part for the good of the community,’ Gumad-ang said in the vernacular. He added that aside from tree planting, DCMA regularly conduct clean-up drive to Ambalanga River as well as in their communities (Tuap/ Dalisay/Sorong, among others, also in line with their town’s environmental ordinances.
DCMA’s other projects include medical support to ailing members, their families and local residents. And burial
assistance. In the education field, DCMA has donated sound system to Gumatdang Integrated School, according to Laurence, currently the president of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of said school. ‘Aramiden mi latta iti pagsayaatan ti umili,’ said Laurence, whose group also gives support to sports especially to the youth sector. Asked about his other concerns, the DCMA official said appealed to the government agencies to open an access roads in rice-producing areas in Sitios Tuap and Moyot. And lastly, the ban against small scale mining be lifted and the processing of their minahang bayan applications be expedited.
Primo Agatep/ABN
