DENR to expand rollout of digital permit applications

MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) plans to implement its digital and parallel processing of all mining-related applications across all regions next year after piloting the system aimed at streamlining and fast-tracking approval of permits.

Environment Undersecretary Carlos Primo David said the department has completed its initial rollout of the new digital processing system in three regions, including CAR and Davao, recently.

“We already got the feedback and once everything is okay we will roll it out to all regions,” David told reporters on the sidelines of a mining policy forum organized by the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines Inc. yesterday.

The new digital processing system not only streamlines the application process but also “eliminates” indiscretion of government officials handling the evaluation, David said.

“When you start to evaluate applications there are always technical and legal aspects to it and the evaluation  process depends on the person evaluating it. We want to eliminate that and be able to track where these permits are getting stalled,” he said.

The digitalization of applications complements the parallel processing system the DENR also started implementing this year wherein the agency acts on applications once they receive them without the need to wait for other related government permits.

Once the evaluation is done, the DENR would just wait for the pending documents before issuing the applied certificates or permits to the applicant, David explained.

“We process everything but we do not release it until they secure the other permits,” he said.

David said the DENR commits to shorten the processing time for all mining-related applications within two years, significantly shorter than the current time frame of six to 11 years.

Anti-Red Tape Authority Director General Ernesto Perez said they will draft a model ordinance that all local government units could adopt to standardize and streamline their processes related to mining operations and applications.

Furthermore, David disclosed that the executive branch is working on an Executive Order that would put clarity on certain confusing processes and overlapping rules in the current implementation of the government’s mining policies. The draft EO would be presented this month to President Marcos.

For one, David pointed out, that the implementation of mining royalty for indigenous peoples must be corrected as there is need to put a ceiling or a cap instead of a minimum or floor share.

“What the law specifies right now is there should be a minimum (royalty)but there is no maximum. But there has to be a cap,” he said.

The EO would help in addressing investors concerns’ on the country’s policy stability when it comes to taxation and other fiscal-related matters while waiting for the passage of the law that would outline the country’s mining fiscal regime.