Marcos renews call to pass mining bill

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos renewed yesterday his call for the passage of a bill seeking to introduce a new fiscal regime for the mining industry, making the sector more sustainable and generate higher revenues for the government.

Marcos said the proposed Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime is “fundamental to creating a fair and equitable mining environment for everyone involved.”

“I urge all our dedicated agencies and esteemed members of Congress to support the Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime,” Marcos said during the 2023 Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award at Malacañang.

The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill in September last year. The measure is pending in the Senate.

The Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime is one of the priority bills of the Marcos administration.

The bill proposes a revised fiscal regime, imposing a four-tier, margin-based royalty ranging from 1.5 percent to five percent on income from mining operations outside of mineral reservations.

Under the current fiscal regime, obligations of mining groups and companies vary depending on the mining agreement. It also imposes taxes only for mines operating within a mineral reservation.

Among those present at the awarding ceremony were Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga and Chamber of Mines of the Philippines chairman Mike Toledo.

A total of 13 mining and mineral processing companies received the award.

They were Cagdianao Mining Corp., CTP Construction and Mining Corp., Eramen Minerals Inc., Hinatuan Mining Corp.-Tagana-an, FCF Minerals Corp., Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., Taganito Mining Corp., Republic Cement & Building Materials Inc.-Batangas, Eagle Cement Corp., Helix Resources and Development Corp., Republic Cement & Building Materials Inc.-Teresa, Coral Bay Nickel Corp. and Philippine Mining Service Corp.-Alcoy plant.

“These awardees have shown commendable support for our vision for the mining sector,” the President said.

Marcos also directed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to strengthen its regulatory capabilities for the industry.

“It is equally vital for the DENR to strengthen regulatory capabilities for all mining operations to ensure compliance with safety and environmental standards,” he said.

At a press briefing at the Palace, Loyzaga said the DENR is monitoring several mining companies for possible violation of environmental laws.

“We are monitoring several. I cannot release the names to you at this point but we will give you a list of those that have been clearly now along the way toward cancellation or cease and desist,” she said.

Loyzaga said the government is building up a case against operators of a suspected illegal mineral reprocessing plant in Paracale, Camarines Norte.

Loyzaga said the Bureau of Immigration and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission raided the mining facility in Barangay Tugos.

Nabbed during the raid were 11 Chinese nationals suspected to be the ones running the mill, she said.

This is not the first time they arrested Chinese miners, Loyzaga said.

Last year, authorities nabbed five Chinese nationals for alleged illegal extraction of minerals in Misamis Oriental.