BAGUIO CITY — Suspecting that subsidence causing a sinkhole in Barangay Camp 7 may have been triggered by illegal tunnels, the Baguio City government has renewed its crackdown on unauthorized mining activities in the city.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the City Mining Regulatory Board will convene to review existing policies and address environmental hazards posed by underground mining structures. To prevent further violations, the city will implement intensified patrols in affected areas.
The strategy mirrors frequent monitoring currently conducted by the city police in protected watersheds. The mayor noted that while tunnels in Camp 7 were ordered closed three years ago, recent reports indicate some operations have persisted despite the standing order. He acknowledged challenges in maintaining consistent surveillance, with clandestine activities continuing in areas including Camp 7, Kias, and Atok Trail.
Earlier this week, personnel from the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-DENR), Baguio City Police Mobile Force Company (CMFC), and local officials of Barangay Loakan Proper conducted an onsite investigation of illegal mining. The operation resulted in the confiscation of a gas-powered motor engine used in ore crushing.
The city government is calling for increased vigilance from barangay officials to assist in enforcement. Mayor Magalong emphasized that local leaders are best positioned to monitor their areas and report illegal activities. Past surveillance operations confirmed active tunnels in Camp 7, where individuals were observed entering and exiting the sites.
The mayor suggested that such excavations are likely linked to the recent sinkhole. Beyond immediate enforcement, the city is considering long-term structural changes for the local mining industry. Discussions are ongoing with mining associations and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau regarding the potential centralization of mining activities in the Atok Trail area.
The proposal, along with updates on tunnel closures near the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and other sites, will be prioritized at the upcoming regulatory board meeting.