Prone to flooding and landslide make Vitali village dangerous for mining operation

The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has identified Vitali in the east coast of Zamboanga City to be susceptible to geological hazards and dangerous for mining operation.

Based on MGB study in October 1998, the said village is prone to flooding and landslides primarily because its catchment area is underlain with mostly plutonic and volcanic rocks with minor sediments.

MGB study also revealed “except for the alluvial deposits along the channel of the river, all the other rock types (in Vitali) are considered to be permeable with low water retention because they are massive indurated, well compacted, dense with less voids.”

It further showed that the “fine tuffs within the Vitali proper is also less permeable because clasts are closely packed and well arranged such that interlocking grains prevented a continuous network of voids.”

DENR-MGB officials said Vitali experienced flashfloods in the past but the biggest flood incident occurred on October 6, 1998. “A flooding or a landslide could occur anytime in the area if heavy rains continue.”

As this developed, residents in the area appealed to local officials to recall their resolution endorsing the environmental certificate clearance application of Linktone Mining Corporation that will pave the way for the grant of a permit to operate mining in Vitali.

St. Joseph Parish priest Monsignor Crisanto de la Cruz, who has been spearheading moves to protest the proposed mining operations, said the people in the area would not appreciate the Council act if and when the resolution would not be withdrawn despite the results of the study.

“I’m still confident that without pointing hands at each other, our respectable members of the City Council taking into consideration the study would reconsider their stand and the honorable mayor would persuade the councilors to recall the resolution”, the priest said.

Last week, Zamboanga City Archbishop Carmelo Morelos, issued a pastoral letters also calling for the recall of City Council’s resolution citing the numerous environmental tragedies and incidents in other areas as a result of mining activities.

The bishop made the statement in the light of the recent tragic landslide in Southern Leyte that left at least over 80 persons dead and an estimated 1,400 still missing, to avoid a repeat of the incident. (ZS)