Mining firms balk at new review, moratorium

Subjecting mining operations to another audit and again suspending the acceptance of applications for new mines will dampen planned investments, according to the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP).

COMP executive vice president Nelia Halcon Tuesday said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) under the Aquino administration had been undertaking an assessment of mining operations and a moratorium on new mines pursuant to Executive Order No. 79.

The industry group earlier described EO 79 as a “flawed policy” and had asked President Duterte to scrap the order.

“After six years of review, it is now incumbent upon the MGB to report the results to the new Secretary (of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources) before another comprehensive review is undertaken,” Halcon said in a statement.

“A continuing moratorium on new mining projects only breeds more confusion and uncertainty particularly on capital-intensive and risky mining business,” she added.

Last July 8, Environment Secretary Regina Lopez issued DENR Memorandum Order No. 2016-01, which formalized the imposition of a new audit and a new moratorium.

Halcon said the memo “impedes on the otherwise positive investment environment created during the recent business forum in Davao City.”

Earlier, the COMP said it expected investment inflows of $23 billion or about P1 trillion from new mines that are scheduled to start commercial operations over the next few years.

Halcon said that during the forum, the mining sector submitted its inputs to the Duterte administration’s 10-point economic agenda, stressing that the implementation of responsible mining is crucial in driving investments in rural areas.

Also, she noted that the MGB last month indicated “frequent violators” of mining rules and regulations and had named companies that have not secured ISO 14001 certification.

“Out of the 42 companies listed by the MGB, only half or 21 are members of the (COMP), Halcon said.

She said that of the 21 members, 17 have fully complied with ISO 14001 with the remaining four waiting to be certified “anytime soon.”

“We are now calling on MGB to release the list of canceled mining applications in the spirit of transparency,” Halcon said.

“The (COMP) and its entire membership continues to rely on the President’s pronouncement to the DENR to ‘just implement the Mining Act of 1995 and ensure responsible mining’ in the country,” she said.