Environment group calls for implementation of mining law

MANILA, Philippines — An environmental non-government organization expressed concern over the proposed move to repeal the Mining Act of 1995.

Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST) said that the House of Representatives committee on natural sources has started conducting technical working group meetings to replace the Mining Act with Alternative Mining Bills (AMBs).

"The law has technically been just in operation for less than eight years, and a cycle in the mining industry spans more or less 20 years. There is no need to repeal the mining law, the real problem is implementation," PBEST convenor and Stratbase-ADRI President Dindo Manhit said.

The Mining Act or Republic Act 7942 faced constitutional challenges in the past. Executive order 79 in 2012 implemented reforms in the mining sector, providing policies and guidelines to ensure protection and responsible mining.

Manhit warned that changing the rules in the "middle of the game" may foster illegal mining activities that violate environmental regulations.

The proposed methods under the AMBs might not be the most effective, PBEST said.

Some of the proposals included limiting raw metals that the country will produce. This would only serve the local market but will not jumpstart industrialization and might even kill the mining industry.

"Proposals to extend the no-mining zones over what are already covered under the Mining Act and the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act is practically tantamount to a nation-wide mining ban," PBEST said.

PBEST Secretary General Ysan Castillo, however, noted that the existing mining law is not perfect.

"There is still a lot of room for improvement, such as the transparency and dissemination of data concerning environmental programs, findings and mineral production," Castillo said.

Castillo noted that additional funds should be dedicated to environmental production, increase of waste generation fees and substantial guarantee fund for natural hazards.