Mining at a standstill

The performance of the Department of Public Works and Highways with the path-changing leadership of my classmate Babes Singson and the Department’s transformation from what it used to be – perceived as one of the most corrupt – is indeed laudable. DPWH saved over P16.35 billion in almost two years while improving construction standards (like increasing the thickness of concrete pavements from 230-mm to up to 300-mm), and is working towards fully paving almost 16,000 kilometers of national roads by next year plus other lofty targets by 2016.

But the people running other government agencies is another story. One of them is the DOTC which has been extremely slow and the subject of public dissatisfaction. The Transportation Department is drawing a lot of flak for hemming and hawing over bidding processes, with a lot of projects overly delayed  like the MRT, the airports and getting our Category 1 FAA rating, plus the LTO Road IT project with even simple things like license plates and stickers still unavailable.

It seems the bright boys in the Department are running out of ideas, so now they are launching a “contest” for apps development to make travel time more efficient and convenient for motorists and commuters. It would be smarter to engage the services of globally renowned IT companies with a proven track record as far as intelligent traffic management solutions are concerned, some observers suggested.

But one department that really needs PNoy’s nudge and attention is the DENR, with the country losing out more than $1.5 billion in potential foreign investments from the mining industry, which continues to be at a standstill due to allowing the NGOs – who do nothing but complain and not pay taxes mind you – to unduly influence Secretary Mon Paje. Compounding the issue is the sluggish pace in finalizing the new mining law. The country has not maximized the potential of the industry because of the discouraging environment, especially with anti-mining NGOs throwing every kind of accusation (oftentimes hyped-up) against big players.

Illegal and small-scale miners are the culprits in destroying the environment with their irresponsible practices, yet they continue to proliferate, while the responsible players are demonized by NGOs which seem to hold sway over Environment officials.  A case in point is Philex Mining which was fined P1 billion for the tailings pond leak at Padcal, Benguet in August last year due to the unusual heavy rains. The company paid up and readily did everything to clean up and rehabilitate Balog Creek, complying with all the requirements set by the DENR/MGB.

The rehabilitation efforts are paying off, because Balog Creek (in photo) has been cleaned of sediments, with silt traps and fishponds constructed for the tilapia fingerlings that would provide livelihood for the residents. We’re told that a P327-million spillway project is being built to ensure the safe movement of water from the Padcal tailings pond as it drains into Agno River in Pangasinan.

An MGB order granted Philex four months to conduct urgent remediation and rehabilitation on its tailings facility whose safety and integrity has now been restored. However, the four-month period granted by the MGB ends this July 7 – but it’s still unclear whether the company will be allowed to resume regular operations – which it voluntarily stopped on the day the accidental leak was discovered in August last year.

This kind of hemming and hawing/last-minute decision making, keeping everything and everyone hanging is a practice that government agencies like the DENR should stop. They have been monitoring the progress of the rehabilitation and clean up so they should see Balog Creek’s readiness to sustain marine life. In fact, the Benguet local government has issued a resolution last May urging MGB and DENR to extend the four-month temporary permit of Philex to operate for the benefit of the employees, families and other residents who were dislocated when the company stopped its operations.

Philex is the mining industry’s top taxpayer, posting a record P2.38 billion in taxes in 2011 alone at the height of the company’s production.  Aside from these taxes that go directly to national coffers, the mining company also spends millions for its social development and management programs, over and above what is required by law. We doubt if the same can be the said for many of these anti-mining NGOs who might not even pay the correct taxes.

President Noy’s “daang matuwid” means going the straight path – not going from left to right in a confusing direction. We wonder what kind of “daang matuwid” the DOTC, the DENR and other slow-performers are doing. PNoy should either straighten them out or fire them for pure incompetence and unnecessary dilly-dallying.

Spy tidbit

Spy Bits joins the Canadian Embassy in celebrating the 146th Canada Day today, with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines holding the first ever Canada Trade Fair at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati. Canadian Ambassador Chris Thornley said he is looking forward not only to growing commercial relations but people-to-people linkages between the Philippines and his country. The Trade Fair which opens at 8 a.m. today serves as a platform for Canadian companies and Chamber members to showcase products and services, with a lot of fun activities also lined up for families and guests.

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