Published in Yahoo News
Manila, Philippines(AP)-Philippine officials pledged support Wednesday for the mining industry as it undergoes a boom but warned companies they cannot dirty the environment, hide revenues or obtain mining permits only to raise fund on the stock market.
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said mining is forecast to grow 17 percent this year, with the metal sector seen rising 24 percent. He said investments may reach $18 billion by 2016, nearly five fold the $3.8 billion over the last six years.
Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa said the country will ensure transparency in revenues by participating in the London-based Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative that requires companies and governments to publish what they pay and receive.
The officials spoke before a mining conference, where industry leaders appealed for more government support.
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| Philippines Open Pit Mining |
Benjamin Philip Romualdez, president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, said the local mining industry is on the verge of its biggest boom in history as robust metal prices draw more local and foreign investors.
But he said a government moratorium on mining permits and a concerted campaign by environment activists against mining are threatening $14 billion to $20 billion in potential investments in the next five years.
Last year, investment reached $956 million and could have surpassed $1 billion had some projects not been delayed, he added. As we allow you to do mining in the Philippines ,we cannot allow you to pollute the environment. Environment Secretary Paje told the conference. Sec. Paje also clarified that the government has not suspended the issuance of permits but wants to first find out what happened to the 500 mining permits it has issued, where only 30 or 6 percent were in operation.
The Secretary said 94 percent of the permits have apparently been sold, traded or used to raise company shares in the stock market. "To those who want to do mining are welcome, to those who will not are not welcome,"he added.
Ochoa said the mining industry is considerably being investigated by various sectors because of the previous harm carelessness being done to the environment and remote communities elsewhere in the Philippines.
For the operator or miners to be acceptable, they must be guided by the principles of sustainable economic development, environmental protection be in place, social equity and of course good governance, Mr Ochoa added.
Commentary: Mining should not be allowed by the present government unless the ruins of previous operation will be repaired. There were several mining sites that still needs to be rehabilitated in order to normalize the environment. The ruins of former mines had been left unattended and the implements still remains and getting rotten and it is not being cleared by the former mining operator.
The Open Pit mining is a menace to the environment and it cannot be repaired whatsoever. That will stay open on the face of the earth till the end of time. The land that surrounds them will not be arable anymore it cannot be used for farming for such a long time. Our government must be decisive and should formulate strict implementation of mining laws and guidelines with foreign mining operators. Foreign mining operators
who are blacklisted in their own country find ways to do their business here in the Philippine for they knew that they can bribe the government easily for they believe it is corrupt.
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| Shallow Open Pit Mining |
