Eastern Samar monitoring mining firms’ operations, compliance with rules

MANILA, Philippines — The provincial government of Eastern Samar has formed an inter-agency group to better monitor the operations of mining companies and ensure their compliance with the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Eastern Samar legal officer Eden Ivy Rose Balagasay said the provincial government is now a member of the multipartite monitoring team (MMT) and the mine rehabilitation fund (MRF) committee, which look into the adherence of mining enterprises with the Philippine Mining Act and mining-related provisions of the 1991 Local Government Code.

“The provincial government, led by Gov. Ben Evardone, is seriously monitoring mining operations to ensure 100 percent compliance with the law and ordinances on environmental protection. It also sees to it that the firms look after the welfare of their workers and residents of host communities as well as their financial obligations to local government units,” Balagasay said.

Evardone tasked Balagasay to represent the provincial government in the MMT and MRF committee.

Balagasay asked the DENR and its attached agencies to include Eastern Samar in the regional inter-agency committee.

She said the inclusion of the province in the committee would ensure better monitoring of mining operations and reception of feedback on the environmental and social impact of mining.

Since January, the provincial government has been participating in quarterly monitoring activities of mining operations in Homonhon Island off the town of Guiuan.