The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) Thursday said 13 out of its 21 members were fully compliant to the ISO 14001EMS standard, which means the mines’ basic operations were at par with international standards.
According to the International Organization for Standardization, the 14001 standard maps out a framework that a company or organization can follow to set up an effective environmental management system.
“Using (ISO 14001) can provide assurance to company management and employees as well as external stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and improved,” the group said on its website.
Data from the COMP show that the following mine operators are “fully compliant” to the standard: Benget Corp., Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. and Philex Mining Co. which operate in the Cordilleras; OceanaGold Philippines Inc. in Cagayan Valley; Benguetcorp. Nickel Mines Inc. and Eramen Minerals Inc. in Central Luzon;
Rio Tuba Nickel Mines Corp. in Mimaropa; Filminera Resources Corp. in Bicol; Carmen Copper Corp. in Central Visayas;
Greenstone Resources Corp., Hinatuan Mining Corp., MarcVentures Mining & Development Corp., and Taganito Mining Corp. in Caraga.
Eight other chamber members have their ISO 40001 certification “under way.”
These are LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. in Central Luzon; Berong Nickel Corp. in Mimaropa; Apex Mining Co. Inc. in Davao; TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc., CTP Construction and Mining Corp., Pacific Nickel Philippines Inc., Platinum Group Metals Corp., and Philsaga Mining Corp.—all in Caraga.
Citing Mines and Geosciences Bureau director Leo Jasareno, who explained the standard to Environment Secretary Regina Lopez, ISO 14001 certification “requires every mining contractor the highest, most acceptable level of efficiency in terms of extracting the minerals while at the same time ensuring that the environment is not compromised.”
Jasareno said certification meant that a mine’s basic operations would be at “par with international standards.”
“We commend our responsible members and commit to continue our responsible ways until all our member companies have fully complied with ISO 14001,” the COMP said in a statement.