National Policy to Promote and Revitalize Mining

 IN 2003, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced a policy shift “from tolerance to promotion of the mining industry.” This was followed on January16, 2004 by Executive Order No. 270, setting forth the National Policy Agenda on Revitalizing Mining, which was amended on April 16, 2004.

 EO 270 emphasized that the exploration, development and utilization of the country’s mineral resources should be pursued within the framework of sustainable development and must therefore contribute to economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity and development. The twelve (12) principles that guide the revitalization program for mining are summarized as follows:

• Recognize the critical role of investments in the minerals industry

• Institute clear, stable and predictable investment and regulatory policies;

• Pursue value-adding of minerals and mineral products;

• Recognize and formalize the small-scale mining sector;

• Adopt efficient technologies in the extraction and utilization of minerals;

• Integrate environmental protection, mitigation and progressive rehabilitation in mining projects;

• Safeguard the ecological integrity of areas affected by mining, including biodiversity and small-island ecosystems;

• Pursue mining within the framework of multiple land use and sustainable utilization of minerals;

• Remediate and rehabilitate abandoned mines;

• Ensure equitable sharing of economic and social benefits from mining;

• Enhance public awareness and respect for the rights of communities; and

• Institutionalize continuous and meaningful consultation process with the industry and other stakeholders.

The Minerals Action Plan (MAP) issued on September 13, 2004 added flesh to the foregoing guiding principles, by identifying specific mining issues and concerns and the strategies and activities formulated to address them. The MAP,a product of a series of consultations, is now being implemented by government agencies, the private sector, and other stakeholders.

• Executive Order No. 270
• Executive Order No. 270-A
• Memorandum Circular No. 67
• Minerals Action Plan (MAP): A Roadmap for the Revitalization of the Minerals Industry
• Policy Reforms Under the Revitalization Program
• Priority Exploration Projects
• Priority Mining Development Projects