Arta expands partnerships to promote responsible mining in PH

Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) logo. INQUIRER FILES

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) has expanded the agreement it had with several government and nongovernment agencies to promote responsible mining, enlisting more partners and extending the effectiveness of the agreement by two more years.

Arta said that a ceremonial signing of a memorandum of agreement had taken place in Baguio City on Nov. 22, solidifying the commitment to a sustainable and inclusive mining industry in the country.

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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Finance, and University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Service Foundation Inc.-Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development were part of the first batch that already teamed up with Arta.

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The Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Investment and Economic Affairs, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and the Department of Energy were onboarded in the updated memorandum.

“This extended partnership will enable the government to implement stricter environmental and social safeguards, improve transparency and accountability, and ensure that mining operations adhere to international best practices,” Arta said in a statement. INQ