Manila, Feb. 5 -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has assured local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and residents of Antique that their opposition to the proposed mining reserve will be relayed to higher authorities.

Dr. Leilani Suerte, MGB Region 6 officer-in-charge of the Geosciences Division, stated during a public hearing on Tuesday that their agency is fulfilling its mandate under the Philippine Mining Act by identifying potential mining areas.

She emphasized though that they would attend to the concerns raised by Antiquenos regarding the proposed declaration of 3,717 hectares in three towns of Antique as mining reserves due to the presence o...