Miners lament Palawan's 25-year moratorium

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines decries the declaration of a 25-year mining moratorium by the local government of Palawan.

Resolution No. 7728-08 was recently passed by the Provincial Board of Palawan, declaring a 25-year moratorium on small-scale mining, opposing any new large-scale mining application, and pressing for the nullification of existing mineral agreements and the cessation of their mining operations for incompatibility with Palawan’s Strategic Environmental Plan.

In a statement, the Chamber noted that while the moratorium is trying to correct a misconception that all areas in Palawan are open for mining activities and also aims to stop some large-scale mining companies from conducting small scale mining operations, “the sweeping policy that it seeks to impose is not the solution to the province’s concern.”   

The Chamber believes that the diverse resources of Palawan should be harnessed for the benefit of its residents without endangering the ecology.   

Instead of a moratorium, the Chamber suggested an active campaign for responsible mining should be promoted.  

The Chamber cited the exemplary performance of two of its members, Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. and Coral bay Nickel, both operating in the Municipality of Bataraza.  

The two mining firms, the Chamber said, has been contributing to the economy of the municipality of Bataraza and the province has been growing exponentially over the years creating a dynamic community that deserves to be replicated in other areas of the province.  

The realty taxes alone amount to around P90 million annually, the Chamber said, not including the employment generated, trickle-down economic opportunities, educational, health and livelihood programs and special projects for the indigenous peoples provided by the two companies.

The Chamber pointed out that the Supreme Court — in the La Bugal-B’laan case – ruled  that “verily the mineral wealth and natural resources of this country are meant to benefit not merely a select group of people living in the areas locally affected by mining activities but the entire Filipino nation, present and future to whom the mineral wealth really belong.”