NEWS

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) are working to improve several policies affecting the minerals development sector to boost the country’s growth and development.

This was disclosed by Environment Undersecretary for Climate Change and Mining Concerns Analiza R. Teh at the ongoing Mining Philippines 2019: International Conference and Exhibition at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City Wednesday.

Teh, the DENR’s undersecretary for climate change and mining concerns, spoke on the government’s way forward for the mining industry.

Teh said four priority items that will make the government’s mining policies responsive to industry needs are amendments of DAO 2010-21, or the implementing rules and regulation of Republic Act 7942; a separate initiative to amend sections 189-92, also of the IRR of RA 8942; the guidelines for the Care and Maintenance Program for Mining; and amendment to the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 7076 or the People’s Small Scale Mining Act.

“Hopefully, with all these pending policies with the cooperation of the mining industry, slowly, we can formulate new policies that will really be responsive to the needs of the mining industry, support their investments and at the same time the environmental safeguards are properly taken care of,” she said.

During the forum, Teh said the government is one with the industry in addressing policy gaps for it to be able to capitalize on opportunities in the global scene, but underscored the need for the government and the industry to work together to improve public perception of mining.

Until such time that the public is convinced of the mining industry’s capacity to do mining responsibly, the government will continue to implement strict regulations as a way to ensure environment protection.

Recently, the Indonesian government bared plans to advance a new ban on nickel ore export by 2020. Teh shared the industry’s concerns that there is a need to address policy gaps for the industry to capitalize on this development.

She said the Mining Industry Coor-dinating Council (MICC) is discussing thoroughly these issues in developing an industry road map to boost the country’s mineral sector.

COMP, which was affected by a 10-month crackdown on erring mining operations by the late Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez, has been appealing to reverse what it calls anti-mining policies starting with the controversial closure and suspension orders of more than half of the country’s operating mines, the ban on open-pit mining, cancellation of 75 mineral production and sharing agreement for inactive projects within or near “watersheds.”

Prior to that, COMP sustained setbacks with the signing of EO 79 which imposes a moratorium on new mining applications pending the legislation of a new fiscal regime for mining.

Amendments to existing policies like the IRR of the Philippine Mining Act will be an opportunity to integrate MICC’s views on certain policy needs for the industry’s growth and development, she said.

During her talk, she shared the MICC observation on recommending the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining method on select minerals under DAO 2017-10. Teh said open-pit mining method is a globally-accepted method of mining.

Also, she said, not all open-pit mines produce acidic contaminants, and that there are best practices, techniques and technologies that can help avoid or manage the negative impacts of open-pit mining.

The MICC noted, she said, that there are existing policies or laws that designate areas that are closed to mining applications.

Source: Business Mirror