Small-Scale Miners in Benguet asks Gov Diclas to differ election; calls for unity, solidarity

August 19, 2019 Provincial

BAGUIO CITY – The Benguet Federation of Small-Scale Miners, Inc (BFSSMI), representing the majority group of pocket miners in the province has strongly appealed to Governor Melchor Diclas to differ the election of its representative to Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB), and called for unity and solidarity among themselves.

“We are appealing to the Hon. Governor to differ the scheduled election for our Small-Scale Miners Representative on August 31, 2019, as we would try to resolve this issue amongst ourselves as small scale miners,”stated in the (Aug.15,2019) which was signed by 13 BFSSMI Board of Trustees.

The election of small scale representative to the PMRB was decided during a meeting of Benguet Small Scale Miners called by Governor Diclas last July 27.

“Our dismay and alarm for the call for an election knowing that there is an incumbent Representative (referring to Engr. Lomino Kaniteng) who has not been removed and not resigned,” the manifesto states.

“Such an election if it pushes through would rather create, disunity, chaos, confusion, divisiveness, and foster misunderstanding among all small scale miners of Benguet at these challenging times where the Small Scale Mining industry is threatened with left and right closures, illegal arrests and seizures, and other problems.”

The manifesto further stated:” the abrupt election would be become a precedent that can be replicated every time there is misunderstanding, distrust and unpopular decisions needed for the industry, thus making the process of choosing our Representative political and corruptible.”

“We call on our fellow small scale miners that this is not the time for political but to unite and to resolve our indifferences intelligibly for our better and peaceful future.”

More than 30 small-scale mining associations whose members close to 4,500 pocket miners – Mankayan, Tuba, Bakun and Itogon, also issued an statement supporting its federation’s action.

Actually, the basis of BFSSMI position paper “Manifesto of Concern And A call For Unity And Solidarity Among The Small-Scale Miners In The Province of Benguet” was the result of the federation’s special general assembly meeting held on Aug.4. which the various associations upheld the minutes of the meeting.

Earlier, Mayor Victorio Palangdan of Itogon appealed to Gov Diclas to stop the election. He claimed “it is illegal and has no basis.”

“I am declaring and convincing you to stop the election. I know that small scale mining in Benguet will die if that election will push through,” said Palangdan, who attended the Aug. 4 special general assembly of the federation.

“We should convince the governor that if that election will continue it will divide us,” said Palangdan as he rallied pocket miners to focus in working for their legalization and worked for the processing of their Minahang Bayan (MB) applications.

Primo Agatep/ABN