By MELVIN C. GASCON
Lawmakers on Wednesday raised the possibility of suspending or revoking the exploration permit of Woggle Corporation, a British mining firm operating in Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya.
During a congressional hearing on the budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila De Lima pressed officials about the violations committed by Woggle within its exploration area.
“The fact that they were required to explain means that uprooting of trees is not covered under an exploration permit. If confirmed, this should merit suspension or even revocation of the permit,” she said.
She was alluding to a pronouncement from DENR officials that they have required Woggle to explain the reported tree-felling activities that it had carried out within its 3,102-hectare exploration area.
Village rejection
Aside from allegations of environmental violations, Woggle is also facing opposition in the area due to its failure to secure community consent as required by the Local Government Code.
De Lima was following up on the request lodged by Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Tim Cayton for the DENR to investigate reports of uprooting of trees and vegetation.
Woggle is also accused of trespassing on privately owned properties, which, barangay officials said, occurred without prior consultation.
“These were serious reports from the ground, and if proven true, they constitute violations of the terms and conditions of the exploration permit,” Cayton said in response to De Lima’s query.
DENR Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna told the House finance committee that the agency has already directed Woggle to explain the alleged tree cutting.
He said the company was given 10 days to submit its position paper, with the deadline still pending as of Sept. 10.
Cuna assured lawmakers that the DENR would “act accordingly” once the company’s explanation is received.
Evasive maneuver
The controversy surrounding Woggle intensified after reports surfaced that its executives walked out of a consultation meeting with residents and local officials in Barangay Munguia on Monday.
The forum was intended to address community concerns over alleged violations and the lack of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) from affected stakeholders.
Witnesses said the walkout further angered villagers, who accused the company of disrespecting due process and avoiding accountability.
Local leaders stressed that the incident underscored long-standing tensions between Woggle and Dupax del Norte residents, many of whom oppose mining activities in their area.
Mining disputes
Woggle Corporation has faced mounting opposition from environmental groups and indigenous peoples in Nueva Vizcaya since it began exploration activities in Dupax del Norte.
The province, dubbed the “Watershed Haven of Region 2,” has been the site of long-running conflicts over mining, with residents warning that operations could damage agricultural lands, forests, and water sources vital to downstream communities.
The DENR probe into Woggle comes as pressure builds on authorities to tighten oversight of mining firms and uphold environmental and indigenous rights protections in the province. #
