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Monday, November 22, 2004
MGB bares plan to formalize small-scale mine sector
THE Mineral Action Plan will not only revitalize the country's sagging minerals industry but will also transform small scale mining into a formal sector.
"In doing so, it will afford you equal protection of the law as well as provide you social and economic security," Mines and Geosciences Bureau director Horacio Ramos told small scale miners as well as quarry, sand and gravel permittees participating in Sunday's 2nd Small Scale Mining Congress at the Athletic Bowl with the theme "Sustainable Small Scale Mining: Emerging Partner in the Revitalization of the Minerals Industry."
"Formalizing your sector will also formalize your contributions to development - contributions that for decades have been barely accounted for and recognized despite the fact that your productivity has almost dominated the industry's yield in recent years," he added.
Ramos said small-scale miners in the Cordillera have mined around P1.7 billion worth of mineral resources last year. There are around 68 registered small-scale mining associations and permittees region-wide, and several more unregistered individual kamote or seasonal miners.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who was the guest of honor and speaker in Sunday's event, added there is an urgent need for small scale miners to meet and discuss among themselves ways on how to improve the small scale mining (SSM) law "to make it relevant with the present time."
He stressed "there should be room for better understanding," especially among big-time mining companies with regard the proposed formalization of the SSM's sector.
Pimentel added there is also a need to harmonize various views of different groups with regard mining as he pledged his support for small scale mining in the country. "Our one big source of development is our minerals industry. But how do we develop if we ignore the resources that we have?"
He said there is "no need to debate about the protection of the environment" as this should be a foremost responsibility of the miners.
Ramos said this year's theme "cannot be more appropriate (as) this fairly highlights what government has been asserting from the start: That consistency with the principles of sustainable development is, indeed, the key to revitalizing mining - where the safety and health of miners and community, and the integrity of the environment, are given as much regard as the value of gold panned." (CGC)
(November 22, 2004 issue)
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