Mining firms insist compliance to environment, safety standards

MANILA, Philippines — Local mining firms maintained that they have taken steps to ensure the safety of the environment after President Duterte hit them anew.

During his third State of the Nation Address, Duterte again warned the mining industry not to destroy the environment or even compromise the country’s natural resources.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP), which consists of the country’s largest mining companies, reiterated that its members are complying with his directive to protect the environment.

“There are many responsible miners in the country. We hope the President will see what responsible miners have been able to do in terms of environmental protection and social development in their host communities,” COMP executive director Ronald Recidoro told The STAR.

Recidoro said Duterte must distinguish the responsible miners from the illegal mining operators that proliferate in the various gold rush areas of the country.

“Our members are already embarking on accelerated re-greening programs to limit disturbed areas within their mine sites to the utmost minimum, while increasing the areas that are covered by trees and vegetation,” Recidoro said.

“We hope to be able to invite the President to visit one of our mines to show him how we are complying with his instructions,” he added.

Duterte reiterated earlier this month that there would be no open pit mining in his administration as the government continues to move toward responsible extraction of minerals in the country.

While mining is contributing approximately P70 billion in revenues, Duterte remained firm that the government can recover that from intensified collection efforts from the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said mining companies have to reinvent themselves and find a way to extract minerals without using the open pit method.

Pangilinan-led Philex Mining Corp., for one, is moving towards full underground operations with the scrapping of its planned open-pit mining  for its $2 billion Silangan copper and gold project.

Former environment chief Gina Lopez implemented the ban  in April 2017, shortly before she got removed from her post.