MICC expands review to 70 more mining sites

MANILA, Philippines — In compliance with its mandate, the inter-agency Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) said yesterday it intends to review about 70 other large scale mining operations in the country aside from the 26 firms ordered closed or suspended earlier by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

However, Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin, who represents the Department of Finance (DOF) in the technical working group (TWG) overseeing the MICC review, said the assessment of the second batch of mining sites would be subject to the availability of MICC funds.

“We’re starting with the 26. After this round, we hope to do the review of the other mines also, subject to availability of budget. I know it’s probably not more than 70, operating and large scale, not counting the small scale. (It’s) not more than a hundred,” Agabin told reporters.

He said the MICC may pursue the review of the next batch of mines as early as this year, if it is able to save from the P25 million funds earlier allocated for the first batch of mining sites.

“If there’s some that’s left over, we’ll probably be able to pursue the second round. We’ll see if we can do it within the year as well,” the DOF official said.

However, Agabin said the MICC may need about P1 million per mining site and may request Congress for an annual budget under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The MICC is co-chaired by the secretaries of the Department of Finance (DOF) and the DENR.

Under Executive Order 79, the MICC is tasked to conduct multi-stakeholder reviews and advise the DENR on the performance of existing mining operations, in consultation with local government units.

Earlier, the DOF said the five technical review teams formed by the MICC have started last March their review on the first batch of mining sites, which comprise of the 26 earlier ordered closed or suspended by former DENR secretary Regina Lopez.

Agabin said the first phase of the review involves the technical aspect of the mining operations, determined through site visits. The second phase covers the social and economic aspects, which include a social cost benefit analysis and an evaluation of the changes in the ecosystem.

He said the first phase is expected to be finished by May, while the second phase may start by July this year. Including other mining sites, Agabin said the MICC may finish the review on all large-scale mining operations in the country in two-and-a-half years.

He said the technical review teams aim to come up with their respective reports on the operations of mining firms nationwide, as well as recommendations.

“Hopefully, the findings will fit into policy issues, also maybe the amendment of the rules or the amendment of the Mining Act. That’s the whole idea,” he said.

Meanwhile, Agabin said the MICC would leave the fate of open pit mining in the hands of the DENR and President Duterte.

“The matter is more within the expertise of the DENR. And at the end, it’s within the discretion of the President if he deems it best for the country,” he said.

Citing a review done by the MICC, Agabin said open pit mining is a recognized mining method all over the world and while it has risks to the environment, these dangers can be addressed with existing technologies.