Mining operations in Caraga to face intensified monitoring

Published August 22, 2017, 10:01 PM By Madelaine B. Miraflor

http://business.mb.com.ph/2017/08/22/mining-operations-in-caraga-to-face-intensified-monitoring/

About 18 mine operations in Caraga region will be under a far more intense scrutiny from now on,  Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) had sworn, as it responds to President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent tirades against the mining industry.

Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to the mining industry to follow the rules and the law, MGB said it has strengthened its mine monitoring activities in the Caraga Region.

As of now, there are about 26 operating mines in Caraga region.

In February this year, former Environment Chief Regina Paz Lopez proceeded to close down 23 mining operations in the country, 14 of which are in the Caraga Region.

Seven of these 14 mining firms are from the island province of Dinagat, including AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration, Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation, Sinosteel Philippines, HY Mining Corporation, Kromico Incorporated, Oriental Vision Mining Philippines Corporation, Wellex Mining Corporation and Libjo Mining Corporation.

The four from Surigao del Norte are Hinatuan Mining Corporation in Hinatuan Island, Tagana-an town, Adnama Hinatuan Mining Corporation in Urbiztondo village, Claver, Claver Mineral Development Corporation in Cagdianao village, and Platinum Development Corporation in Cagdianao village, Claver town.

The ones that are from Surigao del Sur are CTP Construction and Mining Corporation, Carrascal Nickel Corporation, and Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation).

The decision to close down these companies are currently being contested both in the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Office of the President.

Now, what MGB wants is to totally eradicate illegal mining practices in Caraga considering that there are a lot of mining operations within the province.

It then specifically created teams to conduct quarterly monitoring of mining operations, specifically in Region 13.

“To make monitoring more systematic and comprehensive, it has recently come up with new checklists summarizing the environment, safety, social and mining tenement obligations of mining companies,” MGB further said.

The checklists and teams were formed during the two-day Orientation Workshop conducted in preparation for the conduct of monitoring activities involving the 26 operating mines and two mineral processing plants in Caraga.

The teams were created in compliance with MGB Special Order No. 2017-114 dated July 28, 2017.

Eight teams, with four members each, were tasked to check quarterly the MGB-approved programs on: 1) annual safety and health, 2) environment, 3) social development and management, and 4) utilization/development work.

The strict compliance with the terms and conditions of the mining contract or permit will also be ensured