By: Karl R. Ocampo - 05:23
AM November 17, 2018
The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has finally released the results of
its mine review for companies that were ordered closed or suspended by its
previous head, Regina Paz Lopez.
Of the 13 companies
that appealed their cases to the agency, only one company passed the review.
The closure and suspension of the rest of the companies were affirmed by Environment
Secretary Roy Cimatu.
Companies that were
ordered closed included Claver Mineral Development Corp. in Surigao del Sur
where Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. sits as board member; Oriental Synergy Mining
Corp. in Surigao del Norte and Laguna-based Ore Asia Mining and Development
Corp.
DENR ordered the
cancellation of these companies’ Mineral Sharing Production Agreements (MPSAs),
which would make them ineligible to continue operations.
Meanwhile, suspended
mines were Dinagat Islands-based Aam-Phil Natural Resources and Development
Corp., Krominco Inc., Libjo Mining Corp. and Wellex Mining Corp.; Carrascal
Nickel Corp. in Surigao del Sur; Emir Mineral Resources Corp. and Mt. Sinai
Exploration and Development Corp. in Samar; Zambales Diversified Metals Corp.,
and Strong Built Mining Development Corp. in Cebu.
Unless these companies
undertake a full rehabilitation of their areas, DENR ordered that no transport
of ore would be allowed. They must also pay all fines and penalties for the
violations they have committed based on the review.
The suspension order
for Berong Nickel Corp., a subsidiary of Consunji-led DMCI Holdings Inc., was
lifted.
However, Environment
Undersecretary Jonas Leones said companies could still appeal their cases to
the Office of the President 15 days after the release of the order, which would
enable them to still continue their operations so long as they appealed within
the allowed period.
Firms that were
suspended may take that legal route or resolve their violations until they are
deemed fit to resume their operations.
In a statement, DENR
said its decisions were a product of a well-studied review that were largely
based on the findings of the technical review team commissioned by the Mining
Industry Coordinating Council, which Cimatu co-chaired with Finance Secretary
Carlos Dominguez III.
The team used an
environmental score card to determine whether a company’s performance was
acceptable or not. They were assessed in terms of five aspects: Legal,
technical, environmental, social and economic.
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