‘Safeguards in place to ensure responsible mining’

Malacañang said yesterday it would not pick a fight with local government units opposed to the revitalization of the mining industry in the country but gave assurances that safeguards would be in place to ensure responsible mining.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye made the statement amid concerns raised due to the Mt. Diwalwal gold rush site explosion and the resolution adopted by the provincial board of Marinduque seeking a 50-year ban on mining activities in the province.

"The national government believes in responsible and sustainable development. It will ensure compliance with regulations to protect the environment but it will not force itself on LGUs," Bunye said in a text message to The STAR.

"Local ordinances enjoy the presumption of validity and regularity thus they are valid until overturned by the courts," he added.

President Arroyo earlier called on all members of the mining industry both in the Philippines and all over the world to meet the challenge of sustainable development through responsible mining.

The President also created the Minerals Development Council (MDC) to oversee the proper and sustainable development of the country’s mineral resources.

Mrs. Arroyo expressed hopes that the country’s minerals industry would attract some $4 billion to $6 billion in investments before the end of her term in 2010.

The President noted that the minerals resource development industry would be the base of the next wave of prosperity for the Philippines, next to information technology, which had been growing doubly every year.

The challenge, she said, "lies in transforming our mineral endowments into economic assets that will help liberate our people from the bondage of persistent poverty."