Mining firms ordered to secure ISO or face suspension

MANILA, Philippines - The new administration is giving mining firms another chance to secure their International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 certification for Environmental Management System (EMS) until next month to avoid suspension of operations.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez said there would be an assessment and evaluation of all existing mining operations in the country.

“The mining industry has a role to play. Let’s give them a chance. We just have to evaluate,” Lopez said during the DENR’s turnover ceremony.

“My challenge to the mining companies is that if you feel that your existence in the country is good, then prove it,” she added.

The deadline of securing the ISO certification was originally set last April and only 30 percent or around 13 companies have completed the certification, from the 42 metallic mine companies listed under the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

Failure of companies to secure or maintain the ISO 14001 certification will lead to suspension of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) and non-issuance of ore transport permit (OTP).

“In other words, that mine will have to stop for failure to secure the ISO certificate which is the highest and most acceptable in extracting minerals and ensuring the environment is not compromised,” MGB director Leo Jasareno said.

“Any decision I and the agency make, the main reason is for the common good. My stand on the common good is non-negotiable,” Lopez said.

Established in 1996, the ISO 14001 EMS standard is a systematic framework to manage the immediate and long term environmental impacts of an organization’s products, services and processes.

Former DENR chief Ramon Paje signed Administrative Order (DAO) 2015-07 mandating all mining contractors to secure the ISO 14001 certification that shows mining operations pass the international standard and has a good environmental management system.