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.