(The Philippine Star) | Updated September 10, 2016 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines -
Mining stakeholders maintained their positive outlook on the results of a
government audit on the industry.
The release of the
audit findings was originally slated by the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources yesterday but was moved to Thursday next week.
“It’s done but there is
a process. We gave show cause orders to the companies, they answer then we
validate and then decide. Next week it should be over,” Environment Secretary
Gina Lopez said.
Large mining firms such
as Pangilinan-led Philex Mining Corp., Global Ferronickel and Nickel Asia Corp.
expect the results to be positive for the sector.
“No word yet from the
audit team about the results. Our expectations on the results are high and
positive. The audit was an opportunity for Philex to showcase the best
practices that it is already doing, to show that we are compliant to current
laws and rules and to international standards,” said Francis Ballesteros,
Philex Public and Regulatory Affairs head.
“We haven’t heard
anything which could be good or bad. It’s best to wait for the final release,”
Nickel Asia Corp. said.
The Chamber of Mines of
the Philippines (COMP) is likewise hopeful that the findings would be fair and
anchored on President Duterte’s promise of a clean government.
“That the audit was
done with utmost objectivity and findings will be properly transmitted to
companies to address gaps in their operations. We continue to abide by
transparency, accountability and integrity in all that we do. We expect no less
from the DENR,” COMP executive vice president Nelia Halcon said.
Non-government
organization Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), on the other hand, expects at least a
dozen mining projects to be be suspended particularly in the CARAGA region.
“The one-week delay is
because DENR wants to be doubly sure of the legal basis for suspension as well
as the audit procedure/methods so that its credibility is unquestionable,” ATM
national coordinator Jaybee Garganera told The STAR.
“Our communities and
local organizations who participated in the mining audits presented and submitted
evidenced of negative environmental impacts, non-compliance with environmental
laws and Mining Act provisions, absence of social acceptability from
communities and even some local government units,” he said.
Meanwhile, UP National
Institute of Geological Sciences director Carlo Arcilla urged Lopez to follow
the law in applying justice, especially in sparing the innocent.
“I really hope this
audit is just and thorough and that the erring practitioners are punished to
the fullest extent of the law.
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