Mining industry undergoes "cleansing"

CEBU, Philippines - To erase the impression that the mining industry does nothing but pollute the environment and dislocate people, the Regional Minerals Development Council is spearheading reforms that are expected to “cleanse” the industry, one of which is to disallow projects that do not absorb social and environmental costs to operate.

During the Stakeholder’s forum and Mining Summit yesterday, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Secretary Jeremias Dolino said the law on mining in the Philippines benefits all concerned if implemented conscientiously.

“We have a principal law on mining that is hailed internationally for its built-in protection for indigenous people, a competitive fiscal regime that ensures an equitable sharing of the benefits of mining among stakeholders, and environmental and social provisions that are better than similar provisions in mining laws of developed countries,” Dolino said.

But the challenge, Dolino said, now comes with the correct implementation of the law “that is not for the government to shoulder alone if the industry is serious in regaining back its old glory.”

The governing principles of the law reportedly promote for “sustainable mining which provides that the use of mineral wealth shall be pro-environment and pro-people in sustaining wealth creation and improved quality of life.”

The next wave of policy reforms in the mining sector focuses on further streamlining the processing of mining applications, cleansing of dormant mining claims and stricter monitoring of permit holders.

“We expect that processing time for new exploration permits or mineral production sharing agreements will be further reduced from one year to six weeks. Processing time for exploration period renewal will be reduced from three months to one day,” Dolino said.

RMDC also expects to weed out speculators and instead come up with a list of “active, serious, capable and competent mining applicants.” A strong group of active performing mining tenements will be maintained while the monitoring system is being tightened.

RMDC officials said there is such thing as sustainable mining that promotes sustainable development while seeking to protect the environment.

Yesterday’s summit at the Cebu Grand Hotel was attended by over 100 representatives of local government units, government and non-government organizations, mining companies and other stakeholders.

The stakeholder’s forum is an annual event conducted by RDMC and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to provide opportunity for a meaningful and constructive dialogue with various stakeholders. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)