“Aussie Travel advisory will hurt Tourism in Bikol” – DOT

Legazpi City – Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director Maria “Nini” Ravaanilla aired her protest that a recent travel advisory of the Austrian Government to avoid Bikol in ther travel plans in the country due to rebel attacks, “will definitely hurt the local tourism in this region,” Ravanilla said.
Reportedly, the Aussie travel advisory was issued by its embassy in Manila last week, after an incident in Barangay Dumagmang, Labo, Cam. Norte, when communist rebels torched P10-Million worth of drilling equipment, vehicles, generators, and stole valuables from personnel of the El Dore Mining Company, a dominantly Australian mining venture in the country.
Ravanilla was reported to have communicated with the Australian embassy “to correct the wrong perception.” She claimed the rebel at the mining site was  an isolated incident in Cam. Norte province and did not affect the entire region.
Currently, according to DOT tourism in the region has reached new records in tourists arrivals with the influx of tourists for water-ski sports at the Cam. Sur Water Sports Complex; and the uniquely Whale Shark attraction in Donsol, Sorsogon. This was despite the devastation in Albay due to last year's typhoons which affected tours to Mayon Volcano.
Meanwhile in Labo, Camarines Norte, town Mayor Winifredo Oco said, “we want to find a solution to the growing social problem in Barangay Dumagmang,” wherein more that 200 families of traditional miners “magcacabod” are opposing the operations of the El Dore Mining Concession in the locality.
Some 486 hectares of barangay including the main traditional mine site of the Sitio Nalisbitan, where high-grade gold is found has a Mining Lease Contract (MLC) with El Dore Mining Mines, approved by the MGB-DENR.
Oco said forefathers of local residents here have started traditional mining before any other mining concessionaires came, “they are demanding that certain areas be left for them to do their own gold digging.”
Recently, Lawyer of the El Dore Mines have dialogued with Labo officials and the MGB-DENR to explore solution to the social problem of the local miners.
A mining consultant of El Dore, Engr. Manuel Acenas, said although some 100 residents are now employed with El Dore Mining explorations, with varied salaries amounting to P150,000, he admitted that the company cannot employ more.
Reportedly, NPA rebels have burned the company machineries and equipment to sympathize with mining financiers and local residents dependent on traditional mining as their livelihood.
Bikol NPA rebels have criticized the Mining Act of the Philippines, claiming it only serves the interests of foreign companies and further exploits the country’s resources and environment.