DENR to submit report on mining firms to Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to submit to President Duterte a report concerning the fate of the mining companies slapped with suspension and cancellation orders.

“We will definitely use the comprehensive report made by the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) review teams in evaluating whether or not a mining company should continue to operate. However, I am inclined to put more premium on the environmental considerations in the mining operations,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said. 

The MICC adopted the report of the MICC technical review teams which conducted fact-finding and science-based review of the performance of mining companies issued with suspension and cancellation orders in February 2017.

The review covered 19 nickel mines, two gold mines, one copper mine, three chromite mines and two magnetite/iron mines. It assessed the mining companies’ practices in terms of legal, technical, environmental, social and economic aspects.

“Upon adoption of the report, it is now the task of the DENR to determine the actions on the Motion for Reconsideration filed by the 13 mining companies on the suspension and cancellation orders slapped against them,” Cimatu said.

“Mining companies need to shape up. The review specified major reforms needed, for example, on inadequate mine tailings pond and the very slow rehabilitation of the disturbed mined areas. The review also pointed out unacceptable practices regarding stockpile areas, location of tailings storage facilities and dumping of toxic and hazardous wastes. They have to address all of these issues or they will be closed,” he added.

Cimatu also said innovative and sustainable practices of some mining firms that may be adopted in other sites should be recognized.

“This is definitely a new era of doing mining in the country. We are serious about reinventing mining in the Philippines. As the President said, he is more concerned with actual benefits to the people and not just the government revenues to be generated by the mining industry,” he explained.

The DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau has to implement radical policy changes, including the strengthening of  monitoring and permitting functions and improve the review of the technical, financial, environmental and social feasibility of mining.

“You will expect new administrative guidelines from DENR to operationalize these reforms,” Cimatu said.