DENR to hire experts to review mining audit

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has said it will hire mining experts to help the team currently conducting a review of the mining audit ordered by the previous DENR administration.

In a news conference recently, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said, “We are in the process of hiring experts in mining. One criterion is that he or she should not be an employee in any mining company in the Philippines. That person should also possess neutrality as to decision-making.”

The official said that apart from the request for reconsideration filed with the DENR, there are also appeals made before the Office of the President.

The DENR earlier said that results of the review of the mining audit would be released by the end of July. However, Cimatu said that they cannot release the results yet as the review has not yet been completed.

On the issue of mining in watersheds, Cimatu said he will definitely not allow this.

However, on the issue of open pit mining, he said this will have to be subjected to further discussion.

“There is an order by the former secretary concerning the ban on open pit mining. This is a policy. We implement policies. There is a group, the Mining Industry Coordinating Council which is a policy-making body on mining that provides recommendation to the Office of the President. I already brought this matter up during the MICC meeting,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mines and Geosciences Bureau acting director Wilfredo Moncano said the target is to attend to three to four cases a week. “Hopefully by the end of the month, we will have results,” he said.

Last February, former DENR secretary Gina Lopez ordered the closure of 23 of the country’s 41 mines on environmental grounds, causing an outcry among the industry and threats of legal action.

Afterwards, 75 more mining contracts were canceled in an intensified government crackdown on mines deemed destructive to watersheds.

Lopez then said she had to order the cancellation of the contracts because they were all in watershed zones and could endanger water supply.

Lopez, however, earned the ire of businessmen and mining companies, resulting in her being rejected by the Commission on Appointments.

Meanwhile, the DENR has partnered with the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) in the fight against corruption and environmental crimes.

Cimatu, on behalf of the DENR, signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) together with VACC founding chairman and president Dante Jimenez.

“The DENR-VACC accord will further bolster existing anti-corruption efforts that earlier resulted in an improved image of the DENR,” Cimatu said.

“Anti-corruption measures, both internally and as required by other agencies such as the Civil Service Commission, have been instituted and are being implemented continuously to achieve a corruption-free DENR,” he added.

For his part, Jimenez said this is the first time the group signed such an agreement with the department. “We are confident this would work. The DENR can tap thousands of VACC volunteers nationwide for this purpose,” he said.

Under the MOA, the VACC will assist in gathering, reporting, referring and submitting names of evidence to the DENR pertaining to its officials and employees who are involved in anomalies, corruption and crimes. The VACC also agreed to assist victims and witnesses against erring DENR personnel.