Roxas endorses Mindoro nickel mining project

Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II has endorsed a $700-million nickel mining project in the central part of Oriental Mindoro.

In a memorandum addressed to the President, the DTI chief officially endorsed the mining project of Crew Development Corp., a Canadian mining company. Roxas also answered the issues raised by the project’s main oppositor, Oriental Mindoro Gov. Rodolfo G. Valencia.

According to Roxas, the issues raised by mining oppositors could be addressed through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on which the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) will be based. Roxas said the Mindoro Nickel Project is "a major developmental undertaking that will require an Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) before implementation."

According to Roxas, the ERA will identify "appropriate mitigating measures if ... the project will entail considerable risks, .. and is expected to take into consideration the social acceptability of the project."

With regards to the plight of the indigenous people, Roxas said there are specific provisions in the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) that will protect their interests.

He added that the project will not compromise the development plan of the province.

Crew Development Corp. is now conducting exploration activities to determine if there are nickel deposits in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro and in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.