Labor group backs responsible mining

TUBA, Benguet – A liberal labor group here it fully supports the conduct of responsible mining in the country since it has greatly contributed to the development of remote villages over the past several decades.

Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said the support they are extending to the country’s mining industry is because it has generated substantial employment opportunities for thousands of people in remote villages that have translated to improved living condition and the improvement of status of hundreds of remote communities because of the implementation of development projects through the various corporate social responsibility projects of the different mining companies.

According to him, mining is good for the country if it is done with utmost responsibility, it respects host communities and it strictly adheres to core labor standards.

With the resurgence of the mining industry as one of the country’s major economic indicators, Rep. Mendoza cited the management of the Philex Mining Corporation for its adherence to the three major c ore principles of mining that has improved its status into an international mining company and is now serving as a poster boy for the country’s rapidly growing mineral industry that is gaining momentum in keeping the economy sustainable.

Mendoza stressed Philex had shown to the world the practice of responsible mining, respect for host communities and the practice of core labor standards which has maintained its robust operations over the past 53 years.

He explained the ability of Philex to strike a balance between mining and sustaining its efforts to preserve and protect the environment as well as working out the development of its host communities is a showcase of its commitment towards proving to the world that mining is actually not that destructive as being projected by anti-mining advocates.

Philex is the first mining company to come out with a widespread tri-media advertisement projecting its best practices in striking a balance between the exploitation of the country’s rich mineral resources and preserving and protecting the environment while contributing in the development of the nation s a whole.

Mendoza challenged the company’s management and labor to continue with its solid partnership that has brought the firm through greater heights through the years amidst the previous problems that have greatly affected its operations in the early 2000 before it bounced back to outstanding operations courtesy of the prevailing high mineral prices in the world market.

The lawmaker assured the mining industry of the labor union’s support in advancing the interest of labor and providing employment opportunities for the country’s labor force in order to significantly reduce the country’s increasing unemployment rate.

He extended the invitation of a technical working group organized in the House of Representatives to the mining industry stakeholders so that they will be able to share important inputs to the proposal to amend the Philippine Mining Law so that they will be refute the arguments of the opposition. – Dexter A. See