Monday, July 14, 2008 Stakeholders to tackle measures to revitalize mining By Joy Romares-Sevilla
TO PROMOTE responsible mining and to revitalize the mining industry, stakeholders will gather for the two-day Responsible Mining Forum on August 7 to 8 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City.
Nicasio Angelo Agustin, vice chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC)-Southern Mindanao, told Sun.Star Davao last week that the forum, which carries the theme: "Sustainable Regional Development through a Strengthened Mining Industry," is a joint undertaking of RDC, Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
"The forum aims to provide a venue for stakeholders to exchange views on how to pursue sustainable development of the region's mining industry," Agustin said.
Agustin, who is also the regional director of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) in the region, said the forum also intends to address issues and gaps which affect the implementation of the National Mineral Action Plan.
"All mining stakeholders in Mindanao will be invited to ensure that wide-ranging issues can be discussed," he said.
To accelerate the region's mining industry and to institutionalize mechanisms to ensure responsible mining, stakeholders will also be asked to identify strategies during the forum.
Agustin also emphasized that based on the recommendations of the stakeholders, RDC-Southern Mindanao will define directives to monitor the operations of mining firms.
"These directives will ensure that the mining firms take good care of the environment and address the concerns of communities especially the indigenous people who may be adversely affected by their mining operations," Agustin explained.
While the fundamental rule is to sustain efforts to develop the mining industry, Agustin said there is also a need to protect the environment through strict enforcement of mining laws and policies that ensure the industry's sustainable development.
