By
Jonathan L. Mayuga - July 26, 2017
Apparently taking the
cue from President Duterte, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu on Tuesday
vowed to prioritize environmental protection over mining interest.
In a news statement
released on Wednesday, Cimatu said Duterte made a very strong point in his
second State of the Nation Address (Sona) with his pronouncement that the
protection of the environment must be made a priority over benefits derived
from mining.
“I know for a fact
that, in a number of cases, weak and irresponsible mining practices
result to environmental destruction, contaminating farmlands and poisoning our
rivers and seas. Miners better refrain from despoiling our watersheds, forests
and aquatic resources,” Cimatu said.
To ensure responsible
mining, he said the DENR will strictly enforce mining and environmental laws.
Mining operations found
violating laws, rules and regulations, Cimatu added, would have to pay the price
for damages caused, through payment of fines, suspensions or outright closure.
Moreover, he said,
listed officials will also be held responsible for inimical acts committed by
an association, corporation or partnership, ranging from penalty or imprisonment,
at the discretion of the courts.
According to Cimatu,
mining in the Philippines can only be responsible if the development of the
country’s mineral resources will be on the basis of technical feasibility,
environmental sustainability, cultural and social acceptability, and financial
viability. The absence of one will not render a mining project as responsible.
The Chamber of Mines of
the Philippines (COMP), which represents the local mining industry’s big
players, earlier welcomed Duterte’s Sona pronouncement against “irresponsible”
mining.
Through its vice
president for policy and legal, the mining chamber, however, said the current
mining law is enough to promote responsible mining although it respects
Duterte’s pronouncement supporting the enactment of a new mining law.
“We share the
President’s frustration against illegal-mining practices and support his desire
for mining companies to be responsible in paying taxes as stewards of the
environment,” Recidoro said.
COMP has consistently
vowed to support the Duterte administration and its policy to promote
responsible mining, even as the chamber was at loggerheads with environmental
advocate and former Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez. The
chamber strongly opposed Lopez’s appointment before the bicameral Commission on
Appointments leading to her rejection in May.
COMP is now hoping for
Cimatu to reverse Lopez’s controversial policy declaration and orders,
including the closure and suspension orders of 28 large-scale mines, 75
minerals production sharing agreement, and ban on open-pit mining method.
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