Surigao City—The Bureau of Customs has ordered its District Inspector in this city to immediately unload about 100,000 metric tons of nickel ore loaded at M/V Lucky Source and M/V De Xin Xing Long and allegedly bound for China.
In a signed memorandum dated October 26, 2022, Customs Acting District Collector Jonah Herbert Dollano stated that this step was undertaken pursuant to Customs laws and regulations and in compliance to a memorandum their office received from DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Regional Office X111.
The memorandum dated October 17, 2022 and signed by Romeo Dalodalo, chief of Geoscience Division, has issued a cease-and-desist order to Claver Mineral Development Corp. (CMDC) within the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement covering an area of 433.9798 hectares located at Barangay Cagdianao, Claver, Surigao del Norte and Barangay Carrascal, Surigao del Sur from conducting all forms of mining activities within its contract area.
Copies of the said memorandum were also sent to the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority, and to concerned barangay officials and local government units.
However, Dalodalo said that despite this order, they received information that CMDC continues to haul, load, and ship nickel ore without the supporting Ore Transport Permit and Mineral Ore Export Permit. Roy Tomandao
CCIL Mining & Mineral Resources Corporation is the alleged mining contractor of CMDC while Binhai Saymon Incorporated is their alleged hauler.
Customs officials said It is therefore unacceptable and deplorable when illegal miners have the audacity to carry ore minerals without the required mining permit and permit to transport despite of direct orders from the bureau to immediately unload cargoes carrying illegally mined minerals.
