Senior officials on minerals of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have jointly pledged to intensify cooperation in the region’s mineral sector through the signing of the Manila Declaration the other day, following a four-day mining summit here.
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza said the environment and mining ministers of the 10-member ASEAN countries have agreed to ensure the continuous development and utilization of mineral resources to enhance sustainability of the resources and maximize the benefits to the community and national economy.
“The Manila Declaration embodies a vibrant mineral sector,” Atienza said. “It would now pave the way for the timely implementation of the cooperation programs and activities under the ASEAN minerals cooperation scorecard 2009-2011.”
“With our knowledge and collective experiences, and with the establishment of the Asean Economic Community blueprint, I am now more confident that we can achieve the ASEAN vision of a vibrant mineral sector for sustainable mineral development,” Atienza also said.
The DENR chief also expressed optimism that with the signing of the Manila Declaration, ASEAN will become an “economic force” in the next five years.
Atienza expressed his belief that mining can be used as a catalyst for development, and as a shield from the developing and deepening worldwide economic crisis.
“The Manila Declaration is not just a document that provides policy directions for the region but also an agreement to achieve the vision of a vibrant mineral sector in the region,” he stressed.
Other significant policy directions in the Manila Declaration include: acceleration of cooperation between ASEAN members to facilitate trade and investments in minerals in the region; encouragement of cooperation to develop policy guidelines and standards for ASEAN best mining practices; strengthening the development of institutional and human capacity building in the geological and minerals sector; promotion of a platform for dialogue; and fostering concerted cooperation and joint approaches in international and regional for minerals.
Aside from the adoption of the Manila Declaration, the ministers also endorsed the terms of reference of the ASEAN Mineral Trust Fund to support the cooperative programs, scorecard 2009-2011 and other future plans during the four-day mining conference.