DENR creates regional minerals dev’t. council

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has initially formed a Regional Minerals Development Council in Central Visayas to coordinate implementations of mining programs and projects in the region.

The RMDC under the support of the Minerals Development Council was established by virtue of Executive Order No. 469, series of 2005.

Aside from coordinating with the implementations of various projects of the MDC, the RMDC may also recommend policies and programs to ensure the development and revitalization of the minerals industry.

The MDC was established to address the interrelated concerns affecting the minerals industry and involving the various stakeholders for the recovery of said industry by attracting new investments and generating revenues for the government that will provide additional jobs and livelihood opportunities.

DENR regional executive director Leonardo Sibbaluca heads the RMDC with the aid of representatives from the offices of MDC-member agencies; while the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 provides secretariat support.

Sibbaluca confirmed that the country still has “nine million hectares highly potential for the mining of gold, copper, nickel and chromite.”

In a recent survey conducted by the DENR-7, it was noted that only 1.4 percent of mining industries here operate with proper permits, which means that the rest are illegally carrying out mining business.

The creation of the RMDC, according to MGB-7 regional director Roger de Dios, is important to convey the message that the government is very serious to discuss issues that highly concern that of the minerals industry particularly on the parameters for endorsement and withdrawal of endorsements by some local government units.

The Regional Minerals Development Council is composed of the Departments of Interior and Local Government, Finance, Trade and Industry, Agrarian Reform, Agriculture, National Defense, Labor and Employment, and the National Economic and Development Authority.

Roles have also been defined for the Presidential Management Staff, National Commission of Indigenous People, Philippine Information Agency and local representatives from mining companies/organizations who also have to work with the regional council. – Phoebe Jen Indino/MEEV