LGUs urged to strictly comply with mining law

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Minerals Development Council 7 is calling local government units in Central Visayas to immediately institutionalize the requirement and subsequent implementation of the Potential Environmental Impact Report and Community Development and Management Program for small-scale mining and quarry operations.

Resolution No. 03, Series of 2009 urged the LGUs to comply with the environmental, safety, and health requirements of Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, which promotes responsible mining at all times.

Under the law, small scale miners must be required to come up with the PEIR and a CDMP duly approved by the MGB of the Regional Office concerned prior to operation.

PEIR is a simplified Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program and Final Mine Rehabilitation/Decommissioning Plan which outlines the environmental protection parameters in every stage of mining or quarry operations.

CDMP, on the other hand, is a simplified Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) to ensure the host and neighboring communities will get a fair share of social development programs.

“We are providing technical assistance to the LGUs for the approval of their respective mining ordinances so that it becomes consistent with the national policies,” said Roger de Dios, MGB-7 Regional Director and RMDC-7 Vice Chairman.

“The PEIR and CDMP are the required documents before the start of small-scale mining operations and we hope that LGUs would accede so that the welfare of the community is upheld at the same time utmost protection of the environment is fully considered.” De Dios explained.

LGUs are directed to create an ordinance for the implementation of the national law to the local level since the enforcement of small scale mining law has been devolved to the LGUs under MGB devolved functions.

“Our operating large-scale mining companies in the region are fully compliant to the provisions of RA 7942 on environment and social components and we are working now on how the LGUs could express or manifest these provisions on small scale mining or quarrying operations” De Dios said.

MGB has since raised an eyebrow on many violations committed by operators of small-scale mining, number one of which is the absence of requirement for rehabilitation program once the place of quarry gets abandoned.

Areas “victimized” by small-scale mining have always been considered hazardous because more often than not, they result to landslide, erosion, and other site accidents. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)