DENR suspends operations of 2 Eastern Samar mines

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has suspended two more mining companies in Eastern Samar, in line with the ongoing mining audit by the agency.

 

The DENR has ordered the suspension of Mt. Sinai Exploration Mining and Development Corp. and EMIR Mineral Resources Corp., both in Homonhon, Eastern Samar.

 

"The audit team has already recommended suspension, so we will suspend it," Environment chief Gina Lopez said.

 

Based on the audit, Mt. Sinai, which mines chromite, caused siltation of the coastal waters and failed to practice engineered mining methods.

 

Nickel-producing EMIR Minerals had the same violations as Mt. Sinai, particularly on siltation of coastal waters.

 

In 2015, EMIR Minerals produced 150,000 tons of nickel while Mt. Sinai produced 50,000 tons of chromite, all for export to China.

 

To date, the DENR has suspended 10 mining companies and is on track to finish the audit of all 42 metallic mines within the month.

 

"All suspensions due to the audit is indefinite. The DENR will still be looking into the violations depending on its gravity," Environment Undersecretary Leo Jasareno said.

 

Other mining companies that are under extensive review are the Canadian-owned TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. in Zamboanga del Norte, St. Augustine Gold and Copper Ltd. in Compostela Valley, San Roque Metals Inc. in Agusan del Norte, Greenstone Resources Corp., Silangan Mine and Taganito Mine in Surigao del Norte.

 

To recall, the new DENR administration called for the official audit of all operating mines and the moratorium on the approval of new mining projects.

 

Lopez reiterated that a technical audit alone is not enough, as social, environmental, and health aspects are being considered as well.

 

The DENR is set to release the result of the mining audit of large and small-scale companies this month.

 

The department also plans to create a separate website where the results of the agency’s audit of all suspended and existing mines will be posted.

 

"All audit findings will be made public. We want everything to be transparent," Lopez said.