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Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Evaluation of mining law sought
AS ENVIRONMENT day was commemorated worldwide Monday, Senator Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano filed a resolution seeking to assess the implementation of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
“The resolution seeks to assess the status of mining activities in the country and their effects on the community, people’s health, livelihood and way of living, the environment, as well as the economy,” she said.
Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, said Senate Resolution 488 will find out how the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) monitors mining activities and if the appropriate penalties are imposed on those that violate their environmental compliance certificate.
“On a broader front, it is important to assess the environmental and human cost of mining operations and just how much our country has derived from the industry over the last decade in terms of income, taxes and employment,” she added.
Cayetano said there are reports that mining companies understate their production, depriving government of income from the production sharing and other taxes.
Australian-financed Lafayette Philippines, Inc. which has a mining concession in Rapu Rapu Island in Albay was reportedly underreporting its gold and silver production, according to an independent fact-finding commission headed by Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon.
The senator also said some mining activities are being done in areas rich in biodiversity. “Once mining destroys biodiversity, it is almost impossible to restore it, not even with the best available technology and environmental rehabilitation practices.”
The DENR, Cayetano added, should also ensure that safeguards and environmental standards are being implemented by mining companies as stated in Republic Act (RA) 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
“The price to pay is immense if we’re not careful. It is therefore important that extreme safeguards are instituted and are carefully implemented by the government,” she said.
Environmental groups and the Catholic Church want the mining law repealed because “it does not only destroy the environment and displace the people in the identified mining sites but also it allows foreign companies to fully own mining concession, which is contrary to the 1987 Constitution.”
Pending before the Senate committee on environment and natural resources are two pending bills seeking to repeal the mining act. (RC/Sunnex
(June 6, 2006 issue)
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