RP halts small miners

RP halts small miners

MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Fidel Ramos on Saturday halted the operations of small-scale miners after they were found to be extensively using mercury in refining gold.

The directive came after he received reports that miners in Mount Diwata and Mount Diwalwal in southern Davao del Norte province on the island of Mindanao were using mercury which is considered a high-risk substance that could harm people.

"The Chief Executive has... ordered a moratorium on all mining activities pending the approval of licenses and permits by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources," a palace statement said.

Officials have said that high levels of mercury contamination had been detected among miners in the gold panning areas on southern Mindanao island, 800 km (500 miles) south of Manila.

Samplings of residents in those areas showed up to 20 per cent had abnormally high levels of mercury in their blood.