by Melvin C. Gascon
Santa Fe Mayor Liwayway Caramat on Tuesday vowed to lead her constituents in opposing a new mining exploration project that seeks to cover nearly 13,600 hectares of land in their upland municipality, touted as the gateway to Cagayan Valley.
In a statement, Caramat made the pronouncement after she got hold of a memorandum from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Region 2 (DENR-RO2) dated September 25.
The document referred to a request by NGC Mineral Resources Corporation for an exploration permit through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
Thirteen barangays in the crosshairs
The exploration bid covers large swathes of land across 13 barangays, including Atbu, Buyasyas, Unib, Santa Rosa, Malico, Imugan, Bacneng, Baliling, Poblacion, Baracbac, Tactac, Villaflores, and Sinapaoan.
“Kung nagagawa ng mga dambuhalang mining companies magmina sa ibang bayan ng Nueva Vizcaya, hindi pwede dito sa bayan ng Santa Fe,” Caramat said.
From activist to mayor: a decade-long fight
In her Facebook post, Caramat recalled that her political career began in 2012 on an anti-mining platform, which catapulted her to the mayoralty the following year after she led protests that halted a mining project.
The town’s rallying cry at the time was “I Love Santa Fe, No to Mining.”
She said she had already filed a protest against NGC’s initial application on March 18, 2024, but claimed the previous municipal council under then-Vice Mayor Jonathan Tindaan failed to take action.
‘Stand firm, don’t be blinded by gold’
Caramat urged residents to close ranks in defending the town’s environment.
“Ngayon higit sa lahat ipakita natin ang ating pagkakaisa at pagmamahal sa ating bayan at pagmamahal sa ating kalikasan. Mariin nating tutulan ang pagmimina,” she said.
The mayor added that she, the vice mayor, and the current Sangguniang Bayan are united in leading the opposition.
“Huwag tayong matakot, masilaw sa kinang ng ginto o pera at ipaglaban natin ang ating bayan,” Caramat said.
Santa Fe, home to forests, watersheds, and highland farms, has long been a flashpoint in the province’s wider battles over mining, with two large-scale operations already entrenched in Kasibu and Quezon towns. #
