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Alvarado lifts mining ban on marble, mulls more taxes
Aug 23, 2010
MALOLOS CITY – Bulacan Governor Willy Alvarado temporarily lifted the ban on mining and transport of marbles on Friday and plans to impose new taxes.
However, miners, especially those who are members of the Marble Association of the Philippines (MAP) have asked the provincial government not to increase taxes saying what is needed is strict compliance and implementation of the law.
“Temporarily, starting tomorrow, we will lift for one month the ban on the transport of marbles to the processors,” Alvarado said during a joint legislative and executive meeting with stakeholders of the mining industry on Friday afternoon, or a month after he banned mining and quarrying in the province.
The governor’s announcement was followed by an applause from officials and members of the MAP.
But while the ban was lifted for month, Alvarado along with Board Member Felix Ople also announced the creation of a technical working group (TWG) that will monitor, evaluate and assess mining situation in the province in the light of laws regulating it.
Both Alvarado and Ople explained that the TWG will try to balance the need of the mining industry with the aim of protecting the environment while increasing possible revenues of the province.
“We have to maintain ecological balance, we would like to promote development, but we have to protect the environment,” Alvarado said.
He also demanded mining companies to comply with the law and to police their ranks to prevent illegal activities.
Abraham Cinco, president of the MAP said they are willing to comply and support the provincial government’s demands.
However, he asked the governor not to raise or impose new taxes on their operations.
“We are earnestly requesting the provincial government not to impose new taxes. We don’t need new taxes. What we need is strict implementation of the law and we are ready to comply,” Cinco said during the dialogue.
He noted that the marble industry in the country needs support from the government as they have the regulatory function.
He also said more than 10 years ago, marble is one of the top 10 export product of the country but declined due to various problems like corruption.
For his part, Alvarado vowed to curb corruption as a way of protecting businessmen and other investors in the province.
He also reminded the police to clamp down on marble smuggling in the province that are being shipped out of Subic Bay Freeport.
He said that extracted tea rose marbles from Biak-Na-Bato are being loaded in closed van to avoid detection and are being transported directly to Subic Bay without paying necessary taxes.
This was affirmed by Cinco saying that he has been attending marble tradeshows abroad and he has been seeing tea rose marble being sold by Chinese businessmen to foreign buyers.
Tea rose is an exotic marble that can only be found in Bulacan.
However, other exotic types of marbles that can be found in Bulacan are being promoted to international domestic markets.
This includes the beige marble, white, golden beige, brown and red.
However, miners, especially those who are members of the Marble Association of the Philippines (MAP) have asked the provincial government not to increase taxes saying what is needed is strict compliance and implementation of the law.
“Temporarily, starting tomorrow, we will lift for one month the ban on the transport of marbles to the processors,” Alvarado said during a joint legislative and executive meeting with stakeholders of the mining industry on Friday afternoon, or a month after he banned mining and quarrying in the province.
The governor’s announcement was followed by an applause from officials and members of the MAP.
But while the ban was lifted for month, Alvarado along with Board Member Felix Ople also announced the creation of a technical working group (TWG) that will monitor, evaluate and assess mining situation in the province in the light of laws regulating it.
Both Alvarado and Ople explained that the TWG will try to balance the need of the mining industry with the aim of protecting the environment while increasing possible revenues of the province.
“We have to maintain ecological balance, we would like to promote development, but we have to protect the environment,” Alvarado said.
He also demanded mining companies to comply with the law and to police their ranks to prevent illegal activities.
Abraham Cinco, president of the MAP said they are willing to comply and support the provincial government’s demands.
However, he asked the governor not to raise or impose new taxes on their operations.
“We are earnestly requesting the provincial government not to impose new taxes. We don’t need new taxes. What we need is strict implementation of the law and we are ready to comply,” Cinco said during the dialogue.
He noted that the marble industry in the country needs support from the government as they have the regulatory function.
He also said more than 10 years ago, marble is one of the top 10 export product of the country but declined due to various problems like corruption.
For his part, Alvarado vowed to curb corruption as a way of protecting businessmen and other investors in the province.
He also reminded the police to clamp down on marble smuggling in the province that are being shipped out of Subic Bay Freeport.
He said that extracted tea rose marbles from Biak-Na-Bato are being loaded in closed van to avoid detection and are being transported directly to Subic Bay without paying necessary taxes.
This was affirmed by Cinco saying that he has been attending marble tradeshows abroad and he has been seeing tea rose marble being sold by Chinese businessmen to foreign buyers.
Tea rose is an exotic marble that can only be found in Bulacan.
However, other exotic types of marbles that can be found in Bulacan are being promoted to international domestic markets.
This includes the beige marble, white, golden beige, brown and red.
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