Miners hopeful of more reversals of Lopez orders

MANILA, Philippines - The local mining industry is hopeful Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu will continue reversing the orders of former chief Gina Lopez, particularly on the mining sector.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) has backed the recent decision of Cimatu to indefinitely suspend Lopez’s order last February regarding the issuance of environmental compliance certificates (ECCs).

Cimatu has started scrapping the orders issued by Lopez after he decided to fast track ECC issuances by returning the authority to regional directors of the Environmental Management Bureau, a DENR-attached agency.

“We are happy with the recent pronouncement of the secretary allowing regional offices to once again issue ECCs. It streamlines processes and sends positive signals to companies and investors,” COMP legal and policy vice president Ronald Recidoro said in a text message to The STAR.

Mining stakeholders continue to hope for a reversal of the suspension orders and the ban on open pit mining.

“We hope that he will continue to review all DENR processes and revise, rationalize and amend regulations that obstruct the efficient functioning of the department especially in the area of permit issuance, monitoring and regulation,” he said.

Recidoro said the chamber has already registered for a formal meeting with Cimatu to discuss mining issues.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau earlier said review has already started but Cimatu is yet to amend, supersede or revise the issuances.

The review is focused on the ban on the open pit mining method which will directly impact most of the the potential mining investments in the country.

The review will also cover the order on the cancellation of 75 mineral production sharing agreements.

Meanwhile, Cimatu said his recent decision is not only in response to President Duterte’s directive to cut red tape in the bureaucracy, but also serves as the DENR’s way of promoting the ease of doing business in the country.