Firms mining watershed, forest areas of Zambales

The second part of our report on the mining mayhem happening in Zambales province written by multimedia journalist Jaileen F. Jimeno reveals how miners have been scraping the forest cover and operating in Sta. Cruz’s watershed, which feeds the town’s two irrigation systems and provides local folk with potable water. Aside from this, some miners have also bulldozed their way through plots covered by the DENR’s Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM).

A sidebar report, “A watchdog in need of watching“, takes a closer look at the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) of Zambales.