Sustainable mining pushed

MANILA, Philippines — The government will need to strike a balance on expanding the mining sector and putting in more teeth to protect the environment as it sets its sights on growing the controversial sector.

While the country is rich in mineral reserves, the mining sector has only been contributing less than one percent to gross domestic product (GDP).

This may change under the Marcos administration, as it sees the high growth potential of the mining industry.

In his inaugural State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Marcos said the country has excellent laws on the environment and these laws should be properly enforced through “a great deal of coordination and cooperation” between concerned government agencies and private stakeholders.

“Companies who exploit our natural resources must follow the law. We all have the responsibility to preserve this earth, for we are but custodians, and we will pass on this treasure to future generations,” he said.

When asked about her marching orders in the mining sector, Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said mining firms are urged to comply with laws, as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) looks to expand measures protecting environment.

“Those who are exploiting natural resources will just have to follow the law. And so, we are expanding on that now, we are seeing how in fact we can implement that,” she said.

While President Marcos mentioned the mining sector in his SONA, non-government organization Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM)  was not satisfied with  the President’s plans for the industry and the environment.

‘’What the President said was only limited to motherhood statements about ‘preserving the earth is preserving life’ and that ‘corporations exploiting our natural resources are expected to comply with our laws,’ ‘’  the group said.

“This confirms our fear that Marcos has very low awareness about environmental issues in general and mining issues and conflicts in particular. It is either Marcos doesn’t recognize the links between mining, deforestation, and climate change or he is careful not to offend the mining industry, which has connections to some powerful politicians in the current government, including many who hold elective positions,” ATM national coordinator Jaybee Garganera said in a statement to The STAR.

While ATM agrees that the country has enough environment laws, the government has been lacking on the enforcement side.

“We have enough laws, but the gap is in the proper and consistent implementation and enforcement of our environmental laws,” Garganera said.

In the past, ATM said the DENR has failed to properly exercise its regulatory function when it comes to monitoring and penalizing erring mining companies that violate environmental laws or fail to comply with their own contractual obligations.

Before government can ramp up the mining sector, it should come out with a national industrialization plan for mineral extraction and management.

“We must ensure that any mineral we extract will benefit the host-communities at the minimum, and the whole country as an ideal target. The Department of Trade and Industry,   together with National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Finance and the DENR, must first produce a national industrialization plan that will properly guide the Philippines’ minerals management,” Garganera said.

For its part, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) said it would continue to foster and promote responsible minerals development in the country.

“In fact, our members are prepared to go beyond mere compliance with the law with our commitment to the Towards Sustainable Mining Initiative (TSM), which COMP has made mandatory to all its members,” COMP chairman Michael Toledo said in a statement to The STAR.

TSM is a performance system that helps mining companies evaluate and manage their environmental and social responsibilities. It is a set of tools and indicators to drive performance and ensure that key mining risks are managed responsibly at participating mining facilities.

COMP, whose members consists of large-scale metallic minerals development companies, has called on the new administration to ensure a stable business environment for the mining industry.

After all, it was only recently that government lifted the nine-year moratorium on new mining projects and four-year ban on open pit mining.

Toledo said compliance with the law was the fundamental duty and obligation of any individual or corporation.

“Those who harness our national resources for economic purposes are also bound to protect the environment and promote the social wellbeing, as well as health and safety of host and neighboring communities,” he said.

Earlier, the COMP said it would throw its full support to the new administration, especially in weeding out illegal miners and curtailing irresponsible mining practices, which have tarnished the reputation of the mining industry.