More science needed in mining controversy
>> Friday, May 19, 2017
EDITORIAL
The rejection of the
appointment of Regina Lopez as Environment Secretary, 10 months into her term
in office by the Commission on Appointments even as President Rodrigo Duterte
supported her, has highlighted once again the mining controversy. Lopez was the
second member of Duterte's cabinet dismissed by Congress.
Lopez
angered the mining sector after ordering in February closure of more than half
the country's mines and cancellation of dozens of contracts for undeveloped
mines to protect water resources.
She also banned
open-pit mining owing to many factors such as safety issues and stakeholder
concerns, fraught with opposition from environmental nongovernment
organizations and pressure groups.
In the
Cordillera and other parts of the country, mining is an industry where thousands of families
obtain their income, its proponents say.
These form
part of estimated 1.2 million engaged in mining, given undocumented illegal
mining taking place in many areas.
Going
against mining is politically difficult, as Lopez found out. Even
environmentalists fear backlash and are careful not to campaign against the
sector, while some progressive groups opt to support what they call “pro-people
mining” to improve welfare of those engaged in the industry — not to suppress
it.
Mining
advocates say the industry provides not only income and livelihood but building
materials for homes, from cement (that is made from minerals), to reinforced
bar and galvanized iron sheets.
A country’s
mineral wealth is state property and forms part of the national patrimony that
can only be utilized by locals, with the benefits equitably shared and
environmental and social safeguards put in place by law, according to the 1987
Constitution.
By
according to cause oriented groups, money produced from the industry are just
being brought out the country by “owners.”
Anti-mining
advocates say the country is not getting that much taxes or fees for the
extractive industry which had caused so much environmental damage and suffering
to rural folks who have lost their livelihood.
The
Department of Environment and Natural Resources is in charge of minerals
development, through the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau.
Mine firms
say they have obtained necessary permits and clearances do so after hurdling
years of impact assessments, stakeholder surveys and meetings.
During
operations, they say they are subjected to regular audits on their safety and
environmental standards, and to check whether the minerals taken out are
properly valued so the people, both immediate neighbors and the rest of the
country, obtain their just share.
But then,
according to Lopez, the DENR has been fraught with corruption on issuance of
permits with some of its officials demanding P200 to 300 thousand for a
signature.
Following
her audit, mining companies questioned the process after Lopez ordered their
closure. They said technical aspects were not sufficiently explained to the
public.
It is time
for more science and less politics -- for more dialogue and less speeches on issues
based on facts that need discussion, rather than avoiding or spinning them.
The issue
is far from over. Extractive industries have always been controversial in this
country that has suffered serious mining disasters.
The mining
industry says it is one of the nation’s major employers and revenue earners. They
say relying completely on imported minerals is certain to increase cost of
producing many items from electronic components to roads and houses.
On the other
hand, environment warriors such as Gina Lopez also have valid concerns about
the damage, often irreversible, that mining inflicts on the environment and
even on public health.
Open pit
mines in particular are an ugly sight. Several of the major mining disasters in
this country and elsewhere in the world occurred at sites operated by big
mining firms.
Mining
firms must persuade the government and the public that there is such a thing as
responsible mining, and that it is possible to restore the environment once
extraction activities are over – otherwise the controversy won’t go away, even
if Gina Lopez is out as DENR Secretary.
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