BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The Roman Catholic bishop of Bayombong has appealed for sobriety and continued vigilance as he renewed his strong condemnation of the mining operations in Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya.
Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao of the Diocese of Bayombong personally visited the anti-mining barricade in Sitio Keon, Barangay Bitnong on Friday, where he spent time listening to the concerns, fears, and hopes of affected residents.
It will be recalled that on October 20, 2025, Bishop Mangalinao denounced the alleged violent dispersal of around 400 environmental advocates and protesters who had been calling for a halt to the operations of Woggle Corporation in the area.
“The mountains of Dupax del Norte — once green, peaceful, and breathing with the rhythm of nature — will soon be drowned out by the relentless roar of machines,” the bishop lamented.
“The trees that once sheltered birds will be cut down. The rivers that once flowed clear will be buried in mud,” he added.
Woggle Corp. currently holds Exploration Permit 00030 II issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). The permit covers 3,101.11 hectares across several barangays in Dupax del Norte.
The bishop called large-scale mining “the giant leech that drains the blood of the earth and the livelihoods built by generations.”
He praised the residents of Oyao and Bitnong for maintaining their barricades at the entrance of the exploration site, saying their stand reflects a deeper truth: “We are not against development — but we refuse to surrender our livelihood and our natural heritage.”
“Standing with them is the Church,” Bishop Mangalinao emphasized. “From the pulpits, in the chapels, and on the streets, we proclaim the people’s call: protect the environment, respect the rights of communities, and stop the deceit hidden beneath the smiling mask of so-called development.”| – BNN Integrated News
