DENR suspends Zambales-based mining firms

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has suspended the operations of four mining companies in Zambales for breach of environmental standards.

Suspended by the DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) were Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines Inc., Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. and Eramen Minerals Inc.

The suspension followed the Writ of Kalikasan issued by the Supreme Court against the four mining firms, said MGB director Leo Jasareno.

Jasareno clarified the preventive suspension against the companies had nothing to do with the audit ordered by newly-installed Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on all mining firms operating in the country.

“The suspension order –signed by the regional directors of the MGB, DENR, and Environmental Management Bureau– is effective immediately,” he said.

The suspension covers all extraction of nickel ores and the future expansion of mining areas. It will be implemented until companies employ a systematic mining method with defined benches and cleaning.

The MGB also required the companies to have designated stockpile areas that are equipped with proper drainage system in line with the conditions of their environmental compliance certificates.

The government regulator also ordered the firms to employ proper care and maintenance measures for the duration of the suspension – including the continuous implementation of all environmental protection and enhancement programs.

Last month, the High Court already issued a Writ of Kalikasan on the four companies and Shangfil Mining and Trading Corp. and ordered the Court of Appeals to conduct hearings to determine if a temporary environmental protection order should be issued.

This is not the first time that the firms’ operations were suspended by the government as a similar order was issued in July 2014.

The new administration remains firm on its thrust of suspending mining companies that fail to secure international certification on safety standards as it calls for responsible mining in the Philippines.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) disclosed Thursday that Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines Inc., and Eramen Minerals Inc. were ISO certified.