PGMA Approves Mining Policy

(JANUARY 19, 2004) -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued on January 16, 2003 Executive Order No. 270 outlining the National Policy Agenda on Revitalizing Mining in the Philippines, boosting the government's efforts to resuscitate the industry.

"The National Policy Agenda is crucial to the revitalization of the. minerals industry because it focuses on the policy gaps in mineral resources management that the Mining Act of 1995 and other existing policies were not able to address." Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Elisea G. Gozun emphasized.

The EO further gives flesh to President Arroyo's pronouncement last year regarding the policy shift from tolerance to the promotion of mining in recognition of the economic contributions from that sector. It "aims to promote responsible mineral resources exploration, development and utilization in order to enhance economic growth, in a manner that adheres to the principles of sustainable development and with due regard for justice and equity, sensitivity to the culture of the Filipino people and respect for Philippine sovereignty."

EO 270 underscored the principles that will guide the revitalization based on the points of convergence reached during the 9-month consultation process among government, industry, and civil society groups as well as other stakeholders, which culminated in the National Mining Conference last December. These are:

• Critical role of investments in the mineral industry;
• Clear, stable and predictable investment and regulatory policies;
• Value-adding of minerals and mineral products;
• Promotion of the small-scale mining sector as a formal sector;
• Use of efficient technologies in extraction and utilization of minerals;
• Integrate environmental protection. mitigation and progressive rehabilitation in mining operations;
• Safeguard the ecological integrity of areas affected by mining including biodiversity and small-island
  ecosystem;
• Pursuit of multiple land use and sustainable utilization of minerals;
• Remediation and rehabilitation of abandoned mines;
• Equitable sharing of economic and social benefits from mining;
• Enhance public awareness and respect for the tights of communities and;
• Institutionalize continuous and meaningful consultation process with industry and all other stakeholders.

The Order also directed the DENR to formulate the Draft Minerals Action Plan (MAP) based on these principles in consultation with all stakeholders and to be submitted to the Office of the President within 90 days.

The top priorities for the MAP include the remediation and rehabilitation of abandoned mines and pursuing accountability for the negative impacts of mining. "We recognize that this is the single biggest source of concern and lack of confidence in the development of the minerals industry. This will require considerable amount of resources but we will not allow ourselves to be idle and do nothing while waiting for the resources to come,” noted Gozun.

A noted environmental-activist, Gozun stressed that environment protection in every stage of mining operation should be ensured and that the ecological integrity of affected areas should be upheld. "A mining project's license to operate depends not only on the capability to meet its economic objectives, but also in its capacity to absorb the social and environmental costs,” she said.