Digging there is, but not mining, says Pigcawayan village chair

COTABATO CITY - No mining, only treasure hunting. With this statement, the village chair of Kimarayag, Pigcawayan, North Cotabato admitted in an interview by DXMS Radyo Bidathe presence of excavation around the village. What we have here is treasure hunting, this is entirely different from mining, Denzel Andiason, Kimarayag village chair said of the digging in Sitio Limating.He said treasure hunting was on going in the village and it has not affected anyone in the community nor the hunters use chemicals that may affect the environment or its inhabitants. It was not clear whether or notthe gold hunters have excavation permitsfrom the municipal government or any concerned government agencyAndiason allayed fears of villagers about mining activities. If miners come here, I will be the first to oppose it, he said.The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Midsayap has said it is investigating the reported mining activities or diggings in Barangay Kimarayag.