Louise Maureen Simeon (The
Philippine Star) - July 12, 2020 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe
has filed an alternative mining bill that seeks to regulate exploration and
development of resources and ensure equitable sharing of benefits for all.
The proposed Philippine Mineral
Resources Act is similar to the Alternative Minerals Management Bill which has
long been pending in Congress.
SOS Yamang Bayan Network said the
filing of the bill comes at a crucial time when the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources announced it was looking at mining as part of the
government’s economic recovery stimulus to cope with the pandemic.
The new bill places more safeguards
for the environment and indigenous peoples, sectors which have taken a beating
under the 1995 Mining Act.
The Philippines is a highly
mineralized country, with around 14 million hectares of land known to be
potential sites for metallic and non-metallic mineral reserves.
However, the local mining industry
remains underutilized.
“The flawed provisions of the
Philippine Mining Act of 1995 are said to be the culprit behind these limited
investments and flawed mining policies, thus further stunting the local
economy,” the bill said.
“If properly regulated and managed,
the Philippine mining industry can be a promising sector for inclusive growth
and true human development, particularly if our laws will breathe life and
meaning to the right of communities and indigenous peoples to development and
to participate in the development process,” it said.
The bill seeks to provide the
framework for the utilization and management of the country’s mineral
resources, which will address the needs of the domestic economy and uphold the
rights of various stakeholders – from industry workers to indigenous peoples
and local communities.
It also seeks to increase the
government share to 10 percent from the gross revenues it earns from the
development and utilization of mineral resources.
The export of raw mineral ores will
be banned, and domestic uses for nation-building prioritized.
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