NGO to submit proposal for mining law

CEBU, Philippines - Different non-government organizations from Cebu will take part in the drafting of the implementing rules and implementation (IRR) of Executive Order 79 or the new policy on mining.

“EO 79 gives transparency to mining which is, for a long time, shrouded,” said lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos of the Philippine Earth Justice Center Inc. (PEJC).

Estenzo-Ramos said that Visayas was never consulted prior to the issuance of Aquino’s EO 79, “so now, with the IRR, we take this as an opportunity to share our proposals.”

She said through this executive order, mining permits will not be issued for protected areas and places under the government’s tourism development plan like Cebu and Cordova.

A database for all these areas will be formed to ensure better protection.

“Mas nindot na, predictable na kung asa dapat pwede magmina. Not like before nga bisan ug protected area, tagaan gihapon ug mining permit. There were so many shortcuts, and no transparency in the past,” she said.

Estenzo-Ramos cited the problems of flooding and landslides in Cebu which she said could be attributed to the small-scale quarrying businesses sprouting in all directions. She also blamed the Department of Enviroment and Natural Resources (DENR) for what is happening, and is thankful for the creation of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council which she said would hopefully “diffuse the broad power” of DENR.

“With this mechanism nga gi-cluster sila, mas dali ang communication. To be blunt about it, DENR has a very low credibility. Through this MICC, ma-diffuse ang broad power nila,” she said.

In a memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, officials from the environment, finance, budget and social welfare departments will compose the MICC. They were directed to issue the EO’s IRR within 60 days to “update the mineral commodity profile and conduct studies and build databases on new markets, products, and available technologies aimed at the development of downstream industries and value-adding activities.”

From a forum on EO 79 last Tuesday at the Cebu City’s Social Hall, the different sectors that attended agreed to submit position papers to strengthen the new law.

 “Detached sila sa mining issue. What about the flooding, landslide? These are caused by quarrying,” she said, adding that the issue will be included in their position paper, along with the suggestion to put up a website on it so the rest of the country can also give their comments on the matter.

Estenzo-Ramos said the DENR lacks transparency and supposed protected areas are being mined. — (FREEMAN)