The landslide in Itogon, Benguet, resulting in dozens of deaths testifies to the government’s misdirected environmental program.
Local officials have allowed people without technical know-how to engage in small-scale mining, and this has contributed to the destruction of natural resources.
The local government should hire mining engineers to supervise small-scale mining operations. The downside is, the country has a shortage of mining engineers, as the course is not considered attractive compared with information technology, nursing or business management. Only a few who take the course actually finish it, and they are eventually lured by high-paying jobs overseas.
But the expertise of mining engineers could help prevent disasters like the one in Benguet.
ISIDRO C. VALENCIA, elcidvalencia60@gmail.com