HINIMOK ng isang Mindanaoan lawmaker ang mga policymaker ng bansa na muling pag-aralan at higit pang palakasin ang sektor ng pagmimina upang maging isa sa mga pangunahing mapagkukunan ng pondo ng gobyerno lalo’t lubos na naapektuhan ang ekonomiya dahil sa nararanasang COVID-19 pandemic.
Sa kanyang privilege speech kamakalawa, sinabi ni Surigao del Norte 2nd Dist. Rep. Robert Ace Barbers na sa darating na panahon, mararamdaman ang epekto ng pinasok na loan agreements ng pamahalaan upang mapondohan ang iba’t ibang anti-COVID programs nito, kabilang ang pagbibigay ng tulong pinansiyal sa mga mamamayan at mga nasa business sector.
Kaya naman iginiit niya na ngayon pa lamang ay maghanap at tukuyin na rin ng mga governement policymaker ang maaaring mapagkunan ng kaukulang pondo at isa sa kailangan aniyang mapagtuunan ng pansin ay ang mining.
“It is high time that we take a good look at our mines. This is the only answer to our economic woes. This is the only source of funding that could pay off all the debts incurred now and stimulate growth in our economy,” sabi ni Barbers, na siya ring chairman ng House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.
Sa pagtaya ng Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), ang Filipinas ay may US$840 bilyong halaga ng ‘untapped mineral wealth’ at itinuturing ang bansa bilang ‘fifth most mineral-rich country in the world for gold, nickel, copper, chromite, iron ore, lead, and zinc’.
“Aside from gold, we also have lots of other minerals and precious metals. Just imagine the prosperity that we have been missing all this time,” aniya.“Are we waiting for another country to again lay claim over these wealth of ours?”
Sinabi ng Surigao del Norte solon na ang Canada at Australia, ang dalawa sa iilang bansa na umunlad dahil sa mining, ay nakagbibigay ng daan libong mga trabaho at nakapag-aambag din sa kanilang local economy.
“They (Canada and Australia mining industry) contribute as much as 6% to their GDP (gross domestic product) compared to our 0.6% mining contribution. Let us use their experience as our template. They were able to mine in their countries with minimal environmental disruptions,” ani Barbers.
“With the advanced technology, we can do the same here. Natural resources are God-given endowments to be utilized by mankind for his prosperity. They were not intended to remain hidden forever while people starve and wallow in misery,” dagdag ng kongresista. ROMER BUTUYAN
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