Malacañang on Monday reiterated its commitments to responsible mining amid the release of an independent survey showing that more Filipinos have ‘low’ trust on mining industries operating in the country.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said President Benigno S. Aquino has so far made his commitment for responsible mining given the ‘deleterious’ effects the industry could create in the environment if carried out irresponsibly.
“If the community would favor mining then he (the President) has offered it really depends on the community,” Lacierda said amid concerns that the ‘low’ trust for mining companies might deter foreign firms from investing more in the country.
Of the 500 people surveyed by PR firm EON Inc. for its first Philippine Trust Index, only 22 percent from the national capital region (NCR) and the cities of Cebu and Davao reportedly said they trust mining from among 19 different sectors.
Lacierda added that Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje “has so far been consistent with the enforcement of mining rules and regulations” in the country given the number of laws which are in place right now pertinent to mining.
He said that the government through the DENR is still studying measures as to how it can handle all the rich mineral resources in the country and Secretary Paje has so far not signed any mining permits for companies that have already submitted applications.
“The only directive that we can give mining companies is for them to follow our rules and regulations strictly. We would like to ensure that the community and the environment [are] maintained after mining is done,” Lacierda said. [PIA]
Lacierda specifically cited the Marcopper mining disaster in Marinduque on March 24, 1996 as among the ‘devastating’ effects of irresponsible mining which the Aquino administration does not want to happen under its watch.
“Responsible mining has happened in several countries. There’s no reason why it could not happen here in the Philippines,” Lacierda said.
