Philippine government begins review of mine sites

By APD writer Melo M. Acuna

MANILA, Jan. 5 (APD) – Some 26 mine sites will undergo “fact-finding and science-based” review by the interagency Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) this month which were either suspended or closed last year by staunch environmentalist Secretary Regina Lopez.

The review will be undertaken this January immediately after the completion of the list of 25 experts who will undertake the re-evaluation.

The Department of Finance, in a statement released today said Undersecretary Bayani Agabin who chaired the year-end meeting recently said 25 experts will comprise the five technical review teams (TRTs) tasked to do the review of the 26 mining operations.

The MICC is co-chaired by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.

Mr. Agabin explained the MICC will utilize the expertise of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) to implement and manage the “fact-finding and science-based” review process for mining operations.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Asst. Secretary Mercedita Sombilla said the review will bring our recommendations on mining-related methodologies and procedures to maximize the benefits from mining and do away with environmental destruction.

A list of defficiencies, violations and damages attributed to mining companies that are difficult to address by the DENR alone as well as appropriate penalties that need to be imposed for discrepancies.

The technical review teams are expected to recommend appropriate measures to avoide the recurrence of discrepancies in the existing mining operations with the goal of improving and setting standards to “effectively safeguard the environment” and protect the rights of resource-dependent communities.

Ms. Sombilla said a list of provisions in existing laws, rules and regulations that need revision or amendment will be provided both the executive and legislative branches of government for their information and possible consideration.

“The final report will be a consilidated one.

We will not see individual reports for each of the mines and it’s going to be general – the key results that will come out of the 26 mining sites,” Ms. Sombilla added.

The five technical review teams have been divided accordingly with TRT Team 1 for gold, copper and nickel mines in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley (Region II) and Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (Region IV-B), TRT Team 2 for iron and nickel mines in Central Luzon (Region III); TRT Team 3 for chromite, nickel and iron mines in Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) and CARAGA and TRTs Teams 4 and 5 for nickel and chromite in CARAGA.

The teams will look into environmental, economic, social, legal and technical aspects of mining operations across the country.

As proposed by Secretary Dominguez in a recent meeting, another review will be conducted in 2019 and succeeding ones will be held every two years in keeping with the MICC mandate under Executive Order No. 79 on a review of all mining operations once every two years.

Mr. Dominguez said while the inter-agency council was established in 2012, this is the first time a thorough review would take place.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)