By Louise Maureen Simeon (The
Philippine Star) | Updated September 14, 2016 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines – The Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) warned more mining firms would face
suspension following the end of a month-long audit on the industry.
“There will be more cancellations,
without a doubt. We will announce on Thursday but [I’m sure], there will be
more,” Environment Secretary Gina Lopez told reporters in a chance interview.
Last July, Lopez issued her first
memorandum order subjecting all operating and suspended mines to an audit to
determine their compliance with environmental standards. In particular,
the audit was aimed at determining the adequacy and efficiency of environmental
protection measures, identify gaps in protection measures and determine
appropriate penalties in case of violations.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau
(MGB) aimed to raise the bar on responsible mining in the country with a
stricter set of criteria in the audit of around 40 metallic mines nationwide.
Since then, 10 mining firms had been
suspended including all operations in Zambales – Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines
Inc., Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. and
Eramen Minerals Inc. – for breach of environmental standards.
Other firms that were suspended
include the country’s only iron-producing mine Ore Asia Mining and Development
Corp., Samar-based operations Mt. Sinai Exploration Mining and Development
Corp., EMIR Mineral Resources Corp., Berong Nickel Corp., Claver Mineral
Development Corp., and Citinickel Mines and Development Corp.
The MGB also stopped the export of
nickel ore from the Manicani mine of Hinatuan Mining Corp., an affiliate of
Nickel Asia Corp., due to excessive soil extraction.
Aside from this, the DENR ordered
the immediate suspension of small-scale mining operations, halting about 60
percent of total gold production in the country.
Lopez earlier disclosed the audit
focused on Mindanao where most number of mining operations and applications are
located particularly TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc., St. Augustine
Gold & Copper Ltd., San Roque Metals Inc., Greenstone Resources Corp.,
Silangan Mining, Taganito Mining and Shenzhou Mining Corp.
As mining stakeholders await the
results, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) expressed confidence
that the outcome would be fair and have a positive impact on the industry.
“We hope 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,” the chamber said.
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