Posted on June 20, 2017
BUSINESS GROUPS said they support Environment
Secretary Roy A. Cimatu’s stance on mining but are looking to meet with the new
chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to gain
clarity on specific policies.
Mr. Cimatu, a retired general and
diplomat who was appointed to head the DENR last month, said he had general
guidelines for “responsible mining” under his watch, telling a gathering of the
European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) that the agency will
continue to “strictly enforce mining and environmental regulations.”
“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 the project responsible,” Mr. Cimatu was quoted as saying in a DENR statement on Monday.
Chamber of Mines of the Philippines Executive Vice-President Nelia C. Halcon said the group is seeking to meet with Mr. Cimatu by this month to discuss policy details.
“We agree on what he said including the four basic parameters upon which mining can be considered responsible. The industry has yet to meet with him,” Ms. Halcon said in a mobile phone reply yesterday when sought for comment on Mr. Cimatu’s statement.
“Yes, [the] meeting is being scheduled by the appointment secretary. [This month], we hope so,” she said on the timeline of the meeting.
Also sought for comment, ECCP President Guenter Taus voiced the support of the group for the implementation of responsible mining.
“In line with Secretary Cimatu’s statement on responsible mining, the ECCP fully supports the department’s continued stance on strictly enforcing mining and environmental regulations in line with Philippine law. We applaud the Secretary and continue to look forward to the good work done by the DENR. We must uphold due process and give violators a chance to remedy any wrongdoing should such occur,” Mr. Taus said in an e-mail yesterday.
The ECCP met with Mr. Cimatu in a joint membership luncheon which it hosted on June 15.
“While we agree with the said fundamentals of responsible mining, I personally believe that this could be discussed more deeply in the very near future. In any case, we look forward to working closely with the Secretary on these issues and moving towards a business environment for all,” Mr. Taus further said in his e-mail.
Also yesterday, the DENR noted the agency’s investor-friendly initiatives including assuring foreign investors that the agency will continue to push for clean energy and promote proper management of water resources and solid waste.
The DENR also committed to its role in facilitating the ease of obtaining environmental clearances for investors like recently introducing some improvements in the implementation of the Environmental Impact Statement system, as well as in the processing and issuance of tree cutting permits for development projects.
“One, we have provided facilities for online application for environmental compliance certificate to shorten the process. Two, authority to issue cutting permits of planted trees has been delegated to the regional office. Further delegation to the PENRO (Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office) and CENRO (Community Environment and Natural Resources Office) is being considered,” Mr. Cimatu was quoted as saying.
The Environment chief also disclosed that the streamlining of issuances of water permits is also underway and that the agency has been actively promoting the deployment of clean and green energy sources through the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) -- a financial mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol which enables developed countries to implement cost-effective emission reduction projects in developing countries -- and the recently signed Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM) between the Philippines and Japan -- a low carbon growth partnership between Japan and the Philippines and facilitates greenhouse gas emission reductions through projects implemented by companies or cities from the partner countries.
The DENR said the JCM is expected to promote the transfer and use of clean technology and potential projects under the mechanism are in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency and waste handling and disposal.
So far, the DENR said there are a total of 119 CDM project applications, of which 70 projects have been successfully registered comprising of 21 large-scale and 49 small-scale projects and most of these are renewable energy initiatives.
For initiatives to improve the management of the country’s water resources, Mr. Cimatu said water resources assessment is being conducted in water constraint areas and major river basins in order to come up with more informed and science-based policies and plans for systematic water resource allocation and development for various purposes.
The DENR said it is also pushing to address the issue of landfills and dumpsites by promoting the use of waste-to-energy (WTE) or the process of generating energy in the form of electricity or heat from the primary treatment of waste.
There are three WTE projects in the country that are supported by European countries: the Quezon City Controlled Disposal Facility Biogas Emission Reduction Project supported by Switzerland and Italy; the Montalban Landfill Methane Recovery and Power Generation Project by the United Kingdom; and the Cebu City Landfill Gas and Waste to Energy project by Spain.
Mr. Cimatu said WTE technologies and projects are starting to gain momentum in the Philippines and there are a growing number of projects utilizing the technology. -- Imee Charlee C. Delavin
“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 the project responsible,” Mr. Cimatu was quoted as saying in a DENR statement on Monday.
Chamber of Mines of the Philippines Executive Vice-President Nelia C. Halcon said the group is seeking to meet with Mr. Cimatu by this month to discuss policy details.
“We agree on what he said including the four basic parameters upon which mining can be considered responsible. The industry has yet to meet with him,” Ms. Halcon said in a mobile phone reply yesterday when sought for comment on Mr. Cimatu’s statement.
“Yes, [the] meeting is being scheduled by the appointment secretary. [This month], we hope so,” she said on the timeline of the meeting.
Also sought for comment, ECCP President Guenter Taus voiced the support of the group for the implementation of responsible mining.
“In line with Secretary Cimatu’s statement on responsible mining, the ECCP fully supports the department’s continued stance on strictly enforcing mining and environmental regulations in line with Philippine law. We applaud the Secretary and continue to look forward to the good work done by the DENR. We must uphold due process and give violators a chance to remedy any wrongdoing should such occur,” Mr. Taus said in an e-mail yesterday.
The ECCP met with Mr. Cimatu in a joint membership luncheon which it hosted on June 15.
“While we agree with the said fundamentals of responsible mining, I personally believe that this could be discussed more deeply in the very near future. In any case, we look forward to working closely with the Secretary on these issues and moving towards a business environment for all,” Mr. Taus further said in his e-mail.
Also yesterday, the DENR noted the agency’s investor-friendly initiatives including assuring foreign investors that the agency will continue to push for clean energy and promote proper management of water resources and solid waste.
The DENR also committed to its role in facilitating the ease of obtaining environmental clearances for investors like recently introducing some improvements in the implementation of the Environmental Impact Statement system, as well as in the processing and issuance of tree cutting permits for development projects.
“One, we have provided facilities for online application for environmental compliance certificate to shorten the process. Two, authority to issue cutting permits of planted trees has been delegated to the regional office. Further delegation to the PENRO (Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office) and CENRO (Community Environment and Natural Resources Office) is being considered,” Mr. Cimatu was quoted as saying.
The Environment chief also disclosed that the streamlining of issuances of water permits is also underway and that the agency has been actively promoting the deployment of clean and green energy sources through the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) -- a financial mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol which enables developed countries to implement cost-effective emission reduction projects in developing countries -- and the recently signed Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM) between the Philippines and Japan -- a low carbon growth partnership between Japan and the Philippines and facilitates greenhouse gas emission reductions through projects implemented by companies or cities from the partner countries.
The DENR said the JCM is expected to promote the transfer and use of clean technology and potential projects under the mechanism are in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency and waste handling and disposal.
So far, the DENR said there are a total of 119 CDM project applications, of which 70 projects have been successfully registered comprising of 21 large-scale and 49 small-scale projects and most of these are renewable energy initiatives.
For initiatives to improve the management of the country’s water resources, Mr. Cimatu said water resources assessment is being conducted in water constraint areas and major river basins in order to come up with more informed and science-based policies and plans for systematic water resource allocation and development for various purposes.
The DENR said it is also pushing to address the issue of landfills and dumpsites by promoting the use of waste-to-energy (WTE) or the process of generating energy in the form of electricity or heat from the primary treatment of waste.
There are three WTE projects in the country that are supported by European countries: the Quezon City Controlled Disposal Facility Biogas Emission Reduction Project supported by Switzerland and Italy; the Montalban Landfill Methane Recovery and Power Generation Project by the United Kingdom; and the Cebu City Landfill Gas and Waste to Energy project by Spain.
Mr. Cimatu said WTE technologies and projects are starting to gain momentum in the Philippines and there are a growing number of projects utilizing the technology. -- Imee Charlee C. Delavin
No comments:
Post a Comment