Mining firms spent P830M for "green" programs in '08

CEBU, Philippines - At least P830 million was spent in 2008 by mining companies in Central Visayas to comply with requirements of Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 2005, said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7.

Of the P830 million, 99.5 percent or P825 million was spent by mining companies in Cebu for their environmental protection programs.

Carmen Copper Corporation in Toledo City had the biggest allocation of P789.7 million, followed by Apo Cement Corporation and Apo Land and Quarry Corporation in Naga City with P17.5 million. Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc. and Solid Earth Development Corporation in San Fernando jointly allocated and spent P10.13 million.

Other large-scale mining companies in Cebu that have complied with the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP) are the JLR Construction and Aggregate Inc. in Naga City and the Philippine Mining Service Corporation and Dolomite Mining Corporation in Alcoy town, which spent P4 million and P3.64 million, respectively.

Outside Cebu, the mining companies that have complied are the Philippine Mining Service Corporation and Bohol Limestone Corporation in Garcia Hernandez, Bohol; Lazi Bay Resources Development Inc. in Siquijor; and Goodyield Resources Development Inc. in Negros Oriental.

EPEP, required under the Philippine Mining Act, refers to the comprehensive and strategic environmental management plan for the life of a mining project.

Based on this plan, programs are created and implemented to achieve the environmental management objectives, criteria and commitments including the protection and rehabilitation of the disturbed environment.

MGB-7 Regional Director Roger de Dios said EPEP does not only include plans for operation but also rehabilitation, regeneration, revegetation, and reforestation of mineralized areas; slope stabilizations; and watershed development.

For its part, MGB-7 strictly monitors the mining companies to ensure that they are following the law. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)