By:
Ronnel W. Domingo 01:34 AM October 13, 2016
DENR
MINING AUDIT PRESS CONFERENCE. Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina
Lopez and Undersecretary Leo Jasareno show one of the twenty mining firms
recommended for suspension during news briefing at the DENR office in Quezon
City.INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
Government efforts to
clean up the mining industry will continue even if Senior Environment
Undersecretary Leo Jasareno, who led the audit teams that recommended the
suspension of 20 mine operators, is now out of the picture, Environment
Secretary Gina Lopez said on Wednesday.
Jasareno, director of
the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), resigned recently after President
Duterte ordered all appointees of his predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, to
vacate their posts.
Last week, Mr. Duterte
appointed Wilfredo G. Moncano acting director IV of the MGB, replacing
Jasareno.
Proper policy direction
The Chamber of Mines of
the Philippines (COMP) yesterday welcomed the appointment of Moncano, saying
large-scale miners were confident that he would “set the proper policy
direction” for the industry.
Moncano, the MGB said,
has taken his oath and assumed his new office while remaining as director of
MGB in the Davao region, a post he has been holding since July 30, 2015.
Environment
Undersecretary Mario Luis J. Jacinto remains the chief of the MGB, as well as
the supervising authority over the Environmental Management Bureau.
When Jacinto was
appointed in late July, Lopez said Jasareno—Jacinto’s predecessor at the
MGB—would continue to serve as senior undersecretary at the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Unabated
But even with Jasareno
out, Lopez said the mine audit “goes on, unabated.”
When asked whether she
was trying to get another position at the DENR for Jasareno, Lopez said: “I
have to meet the President. Leo (Jasareno) has done a splendid job, with
integrity and efficiency.”
In a statement issued
yesterday, COMP suggested better prospects with Moncano.
“We are looking forward
to working with Director Moncano and are confident that he will set the proper
policy direction needed to boost the industry,” said COMP vice president Ronald
Recidoro.
“Under the strict
mandate of the MGB, we are hoping to pour in another $20 billion worth of
mining projects into the country’s economy for the next five years,” he said.
“This will have significant
positive impact on communities as we implement our social development and
management program,” he added.
Recidoro was referring
to the SDMP, a requirement imposed on mine operators under the mining law.
Citing data from the
MGB, the chamber said P5 billion was committed under the SDMP of mining firms
until 2021.
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