Mining summit set Thursday

Sunstar Baguio

A MINING summit is set here Thursday to talk about concerns of the industry.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Technical Director Clarence Baguilat said the balance between mining and the environment is to be tackled during the Cordillera Regional Minerals Development Council (RMDC) mining summit.

Baguilat said issues on mining and its effects to the environment will be put at the forefront in the summit.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje is expected to join the summit along with stakeholders of the industry.

Baguilat said the problem of mining in the region lies in the procedures and areas where there are ancestral land claims.

“It is more with the NCIP and the issue of a free and prior informed consent.”

The mining summit aims to present the general situation of the mining industry in the Cordillera region and the potentials of the provinces in the industry.

It is also aimed at providing venue for the constructive discussion of issues and concerns on mining and formulating recommendations on how to address this situation. This is also an avenue to promote responsible mining towards regional autonomy and development.

Local government chief executives specifically of mining communities and regional line agencies will also be joining the one-day summit.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Director Samuel Paragas is set to present the situation and the potentials of mining industry in the Cordillera Region.

A moratorium has been advocated by groups in the region in a bid to save the environment as well as respect ancestral lands.

Baguilat said “not all areas should not be affected by this. It should not be a blanket declaration.”

Baguilat assures all procedures and regulations in mining operations are being followed by the MGB.

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on October 28, 2010.