LA TRINIDAD, Benguet , Philippines – President Aquino admitted yesterday that certain terminologies in the draft executive order on the new mining policy prevented him from signing it into law.
“There is still some language I am not comfortable with. I haven’t signed it. We have talked to so many stakeholders regarding the contents of the EO,” he told reporters at the Benguet State University gymnasium here.
Aquino was supposed to sign the EO last Friday, which would set the guidelines aimed at harmonizing the conflicting interests of the mining industry, local and national governments, and environmental advocates.
The President said that he had reviewed the draft submitted by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and that he is in the process of fine-tuning some provisions of the EO that he found to be “superfluous.”
The EO will also list tourism areas where mining will be banned.
The mining policy guidelines include provisions on environmental degradation, safety issues, and dislocation of indigenous peoples.
Ochoa said the EO will strike a balance between the interests of the mining industry and the environment.
He said the draft EO seeks to harmonize the conflicting national and local laws on mining, especially in terms of approving and handling mining applications.
Aquino, meanwhile, gave business tycoon Manny Pangilinan the go-signal to find foreign partners who can help him finance and fulfill Philex’s service contract with the government in his oil exploration in Recto bank.
The important thing, he pointed out, is that this should comply with Philippine laws.
“So long as it complies with the terms and conditions as stipulated in the service contract, we have no issue with this venture,” he added.
Issues of sovereignty, like Philippine ownership of Recto bank, which is well within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone, should be upheld at all times.
“That’s automatic. It is our service contract, it is not a joint service contract. So Mr. Pangilinan will be undertaking the venture based on authorization coming from the Philippine government,” Aquino stressed.
The President assured the public that his administration will never sacrifice tourism for mining.
He vowed to reduce the 98 percent profit of miners by as much as 30 percent and up the government’s take – by means of taxes – from the measly two percent to 32 percent.
40 governors oppose mining EO
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda yesterday said at least 40 governors plan to challenge the government’s new mining policy once it is signed by the President.
“An executive order does not destroy an ordinance, they have to bring it to the Supreme Court to do a shortcut. That EO will not make our ordinances disappear because they are articulation of democratic aspirations,” Salceda said.
“My position is that an EO will not do away with the provincial ordinances. These local articulations must be invalidated one by one in the judicial system,” he added.
Salceda signed provincial Resolution No. 2011-020 on March 14, 2011, strongly opposing any mining exploration and mining activity in the entire province of Albay.
The resolution was authored by board member Arnold Embestro, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on environment.
Albay hosts the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project (RRPP), the first mine site put up in the Philippines after Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 took effect.
But Salceda said the province only received P3.4 million from the mining firm’s revenues, although its export earnings reached P7.7 billion.
For his part, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje described the EO as “a game changer in the mining industry.”
“It will raise the bar, because we will use state of the art technology in all mining operations,” he said, noting that he already asked assistance from Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo to further improve mining guidelines.
The DENR is in charge of drafting the EO on new mining policy.
Paje also disclosed a possible partnership between the Departments of Science and Technology and Environment and Natural Resources to utilize aerial zones in monitoring logging and mining areas struck by disaster.
Paje served as one of the resources persons during the Environmental Investigative Reporting fellowship held at the Astoria Plaza in Pasig City last week and organized by the International Women’s Media Foundation.
Paje said they will put sensors on mining sites which can be financed by mining operators. The sensors can detect levels of mercury and cyanide used by the mining firms.
Meanwhile, more than 100 representatives from private, government and non-government organizations in Caraga region participated in the multi-sectoral forum on mining and environment last Friday.
Caraga State University professor Sonia Rosales-Low said despite so many forums on mining, problems stemming from mining and illegal logging remained unsolved.
Low said it is very saddening that the region’s abundant natural resources are not enjoyed by a majority of Caraga residents.
The People’s Power Volunteers for Reforms (PPVR), Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Butuan City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. sponsored the forum. – With Celso Amo, Dino Balabo, Ben Serrano