MVP calls for separate mining bureau

by Lee C. Chipongian June 23, 2016 (updated)

http://www.mb.com.ph/mvp-calls-for-separate-mining-bureau/

Business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) yesterday said the incoming Duterte government could consider separating the mining bureau from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the same model adopted by the US government.

Pangilinan followed through on a comment made by the next administration’s Socio-economic Planning Secretary Dr. Ernesto Pernia,

who was a guest speaker at the forum hosted by the Makati Business Club and the Philippines-US Business Council.

Pernia, an economist from the University of the Philippines’ economist, said during a panel discussion that regulating the environment should be separate from regulating natural resources.

“It’s a good idea,” said Pangilinan in the sidelines of the joint business meeting. “But it is not an independent (office) it will still be a government agency,” said Pangilinan, who is chairman and CEO of Philex Mining Corp., the country’s biggest gold producer. Pangilinan is also Chairman of telecommunications giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.

“It’s up to the government to determine how they want to organize themselves,” he added, whether they want an all-encompassing DENR or break it up for a more effective monitoring and supervision of the environment, specifically the mining sector.

Pangilinan has expressed concern about the development of a responsible mining sector and suggested further dialogues and engagement between the government and the mining operators.

Pangilinan’s mining business and the whole mining sector are in the news lately following President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s choice of new DENR chief Gina Lopez, a known anti-mining advocate and a member of the influential Lopez clan.

Pernia, however, said that as part of Duterte’s cabinet, Lopez will be working with the entire team in crafting what the new administration wanted in terms of  socio-economic agenda.

“A single cabinet member doesn’t make a Cabinet,” said Pernia.

He shared a meeting he had with Duterte and incoming Finance Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez recently where they discussed the shape of the DENR as an agency.

“I suggested to them why don’t we split the environment and natural resources as a deparment. In terms of administration, the environment is really more regulation and promotion, and natural resources is more about production, output and products.”

“It would make more sense but as I said, one cabinet member doesn’t make a Cabinet,” Pernia reiterated.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau, currently under the DENR, is the government’s primary agency for the “conservation, management, development, and proper use” of the country’s mineral sector.