| Laur,
NUEVA ECIJA (July 18, 2003) -- The onion capital of Central
Luzon will soon produce other goods that have a longer shelf life
than the sweet and succulent onions.
Officials from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau
(MGB) Region 3 recently announced that the rich feldspar deposit
in the onion-farming town of Laur, Nueva Ecija will soon be developed
to boost the local economy and uplift the economic condition of
the residents.
Feldspar is a non-metallic mineral, which is used
as an additive in the manufacture of ceramic products, glasses and
enamels.
MGB-R3 technical experts led by geologist Nelson
Quiwa recently conducted a geological assessment of the feldspar
deposit in Barangays San Juan and San Felipe both in Laur in response
to the request of the National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA). The assessment is a component of the proposed pre-feasibility
study being conducted by NEDA in support of the livelihood program
of the municipal government.
“The local executives of Laur are now considering
the establishment of a Feldspar Processing Center/Factory after
finding out that the place has a great mineral reserve of feldspar
deposit,” MGB Regional Director Arnulfo Cabantog said.
Mayor Blas Canlas stressed that developing the mineral deposit would
provide livelihood for the small-scale miners in the area, which
he intends to organize into a cooperative.
At present, the small-scale miners in Laur are employing
traditional and unsystematic mining methods. Mayor Canlas has already
sought the assistance of MGB to train the miners on how to extract
the said deposit in order avoid wastage.
“The miners are not equipped with appropriate
skills in their operations. Nobody guides or teaches them on the
proper way on how to delineate and classify feldspar deposit. What
they are using is a camote mining method. They also do not remove
or strip the overburden before extracting the feldspar materials
resulting to poor and low quality of the material,” Mayor
Canlas said.
The
Mayor hopes that with the assistance of the MGB the feldspar deposit
will be properly developed and utilized so that it can compete not
only in the local market, but in the global market as well. (MGB
Region 3)
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