Mining EO should ‘harmonize’ national, local laws—lawmakers

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone

MANILA, Philippines—Two lawmakers on Tuesday said the new mining executive order that has yet to be released must “harmonize” national laws and local ordinances on mining to avoid conflicting interpretations.

Representatives Juan Edgardo Angara of Aurora and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar told reporters during a press briefing that it was important for the EO to reconcile national and provincial mining policies and clear questions on which should be followed.

Evardone cited Eastern Samar’s ordinance against large-scale mining, which clashes with the national law.

He said that Malacañang should ensure that there are no contradicting laws when it comes to watersheds, tourism sites and areas where there are indigenous groups, adding that mining should never be allowed in these areas.

Among the issues that Malacañang should look into, according to Angara, is the mining shares of local government units, or LGUs, saying that they should be getting bigger shares.

“Kapag may extraction of natural resources dapat may share ang local government na bumababa sa communities (If there is extraction of natural resources, the local government must have its due share that has to trickle down to the communities),” Angara said.

The lawmakers both agreed that the present 2 percent excise tax was too meager and that it could not be “felt” in the community level.