BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) - -  Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Director Gwendolyn Bambalan praised the mining company in Quezon town for their commitment and support in ensuring the protection of the environment.

She said the informal sectors in barangay Runruno in Quezon town have been successfully relocated with the help of the FCF Minerals Corporation in partnership with the barangay and municipal local government units.

“These informal sectors were then living in a danger zones, highly landslide – prone areas aside from being a timberland which should not be occupied but thanks to the help of our mining company there. Our informal sectors were relocated after receiving financial remuneration and incentive,” Bambalan said.

She also praised their partner agencies in stopping the illegal small scale mining activities in barangay Runruno where they have jointly conducted a dismantling operation of ball mills and other equipment of the small scale miners in the area.

Bambalan said one of the roles of mining companies is to protect their Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) areas from human encroachment.

She added that the mining company also established their Arboretum in partnership with the DENR, a botanical collection of tree species in the Communijty Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Aritao town.

Bambalan said the Arboretum will serve as a venue for forestry engagements among the youth and a source of tree seedlings for tree planting activities of various sectors. (ALM/BME/PIA NVizcaya)