Review of mining firms’ closure to take 3 months

MANILA, Philippines - A panel set up to review the  decision of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez to shut down more than half of the country’s mines could take three months to complete their task, a member of the committee said yesterday.

“Three months is probably reasonable,” Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin told reporters. “It will merely be a fact-finding body, it should be unbiased.”

The Mining Industry Coordinating Council will review Lopez’s orders issued earlier this month to close 23 of the country’s 41 operating mines for environmental violations, including damaging watershed areas. Another five mines were suspended.

But if there’s anyone to blame for tainted watersheds, it’s the previous administrations which had allowed mining activities near them, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said yesterday.

He said past environment officials should explain why some mining firms had been allowed to extract minerals near watersheds.

“Why is it that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources allowed these mining firms to operate near watersheds in the first place?” 

Lopez has also ordered the cancellation of 75 mining contracts seen to pose danger to water supply.

“If indeed these mining companies disregard the safety, welfare and rights of the local communities, then I am appalled how DENR allowed these irresponsible companies to violate and abuse the environment by issuing them contracts,” Barbers pointed out.

“I reiterate my call to Secretary Lopez – if indeed she’s firm in her campaign to stop the extraction of resources in sensitive areas, then she must trace the origins of the mineral production sharing agreements that were given to these mining companies,” he added.  

“I challenge her to not only go after culpable mining firms – her people must also be held accountable for their crimes against the environment and communities,” Barbers said.

He said he wanted former DENR chief Ramon Paje and ex-Mines and Geosciences Bureau chief Leo Jasareno investigated.

“DENR personnel must serve with the highest degree of competence, honesty and dedication,” he said, as he called on Lopez to be “unforgiving” of errant officials.

“Both Paje and Jasareno were supposed to examine, issue permits, monitor and report mining activities. Violations do not happen overnight. Both of them have a lot of explaining to do,” Barbers said.

Jasareno, a career official at the DENR, was at the helm of the MGB from the time of the Ramos administration until the Aquino administration.

Barbers also said Lopez may have been “misled” by Jasareno into issuing orders to close or suspend mining firms “many of which are legitimate and responsible in their operations.”

Lopez hired Jasareno as “consultant and confidante” despite his having been dismissed by President Duterte from the DENR.

European businesses’ concerns

Meanwhile, European business leaders said Lopez’s decisions have put into question the feasibility of doing business in the country.

“We are alarmed that this decision that the responsible government agency has undertaken will significantly affect the investment environment in the Philippines. We also express worry over whatever possible spillover this condition may cause to other Philippines industries,” European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines president Guenter Taus told The STAR.

“Setting and enforcing environmental laws and standards is a good sign of a transparent and level playing field market economy. Adherence to the rule of law sends good signals to business and potential investors,” Nordic Chamber of the Philippines president Bo Lundqvist said. – With Richmond Mercurio