Gov’t urged to certify new mining bill as urgent

MANILA, Philippines — A multi-sectoral group is urging the government to certify as urgent the Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB) to ensure that the environment is protected and the industry is better regulated.

“The AMMB will end the reign of greed and destruction which the 1995 Mining Act has ushered in. The Mining Act gives large-scale mining corporations carte blanche to raid our country’s non-renewable natural resources in the name of profit,” SOS Yamang Bayan Network coordinator Maya Quirino said.

“AMMB will resolve most of the contentious issues involved in mining and will regulate the mining industry better, protect the environment, and ensure communities benefit from the industry,” she added.

One of the core provisions of the bill is to disallow foreign large-scale companies from operating in the country.

The AMMB is seen to encourage Filipino corporations to mine strategic minerals, which can help the country’s national industrialization by modernizing its agriculture and developing its manufacturing industry.

The bill also disallows mining in so-called no-go zones such as critical watersheds, prime agricultural lands, and disaster-prone areas, among others.

Instead of imposing small fees and taxes on mining companies, the government will require mining corporations to give a reasonable fraction of their income to affected local governments and communities.

Under the AMMB, indigenous people who live in mineral-rich ancestral domains will be part of all decision-making processes related to mining.

The bill, which was crafted with the help of different advocates, is anchored on land and natural resources management and human rights-based approach.