DENR to streamline mining applications, permits

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is embarking on a digitization effort to streamline processing of mining applications and permits.

Meanwhile, it is also adding another layer of compliance for mining companies that will promote sustainability and resilience in their operations.

During the first day of the Mining Philippines Conference yesterday, DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo David said the agency is investing in the digitization of all mining-related information and the processing of applications and permits.

“We have substantially completed migrating all data onto a single platform, with the exception of data from one last division in the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). Digitization should address making our procedures more efficient, leading to shorter and more transparent processing permits and applications,” he said.

A more efficient and transparent system will be rolled out in the MGB next year, which aims to significantly cut down the processing time from at least six months, David said.

“For the industry, we hope that the digitalization will fasttrack and hasten the processing. The processing of papers right now is admittedly still quite slow,” he said.

For this endeavor, the DENR has tapped PwC Philippines to review the processes and systems of the MGB and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

“They will be supporting our department-wide process as we ensure that the bureaus and their people and technologies are fit for purpose,” David said.

The DENR and PwC Philippines forged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last June to identify the gaps in the bureau’s processes and functions.

Under the partnership, PwC Philippines is conducting a comprehensive assessment using appropriate governance, risk management and compliance tools in its review.

It will also provide technical partnership and assistance, as well as develop a five-year transformation roadmap with corresponding action plans and recommendations to strengthen DENR processes.

Meanwhile, the DENR has pilot-tested a new process called Negotiated Sustainability and Resilience Agreement (NSRA) for mining companies, which is eyed for full implementation next year.

David said it would be an additional layer in the environmental certificate compliance (ECC) process, but will only take 90 minutes to complete.

Under the NSRA, the DENR and the mining company negotiate to identify shared goals, such as reduced environmental impacts, renewable energy adoption, and community resilience for the overall improvement of their quality of life.

“The NSRA goes beyond compliance. It is a partnership based on agreed values, principles and specific milestones. When in full swing, the agreed goals will be the hallmark of the evolution of a green mine,” David said.

The NSRA process was piloted in two mining projects – a new gold mine in Kalinga and one of the largest copper mines in the Visayas – and a golf course.