Mines bureau urges community to monitor mining firms

THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Davao Director Edilberto Arreza encouraged all the stakeholders directly involved in the mining industry to form groups and join them in monitoring mining firms.

During Friday's “Kapehan sa PIA” at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Arreza said Executive Order (EO) 79 provides the creation of the multi-stakeholder committee that will evaluate all the mining firms in Davao Region, whether they are following certain restrictions in their operations.

The EO 79 institutionalizes the reforms in the Philippine mining sector, providing policies and guidelines to ensure environmental protection and responsible mining in the utilization of mineral resources.

He said the executive order recognizes the formation of a multi-stakeholder committee, which is comprised of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Department of Finance (DOF).

Other members include the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap).

Other members of the committee shall include representatives from business, civil society, and academe, according to the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the EO 79.

However, several militant groups refuse to be part of the committee in monitoring the mining firms violating the executive order in the region.

“We don’t want to be part in abusing our country. In other words, we can only participate in the evaluation to repeal the Republic Act of 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act,” said Joel Virador, vice president of Bayan Muna Southern Mindanao.

He said mining must serve the nation's industrialization.

Juland Suazo, public information officer of Panalipdan Southern Mindanao, demanded there should be a democratic decision making wherein the affected communities are given importance. (Antonio L. Colina IV)