THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said existing regulations are sufficient to protect areas where the entry of extractive industries are undesirable, making new laws unnecessary.

MGB Director Wilfredo G. Moncano said that the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 already requires mining applicants to obtain the acceptance and endorsement of stakeholders, including the local government unit and host communities.

“If the Sanggunian does not favorably endorse the project, the mining application will not be approved because it lacks social acceptability,” Mr. Moncano told reporters last week.

“Likewise, there is a requirement for a mining applicant to undergo the Free and Prior Informed Consent process of the Indigenous People (IP), so if the IP community does not  support the mining project by not giving its consent, then the project does not push forward,” he added.

Mr. Moncano was referring to the provision of the mining law which requires firms to secure a so-called Certificate of Non-Overlap for areas without Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs)/Indigenous Peoples or Certification Precondition from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples for areas with ICCs/IPs when applying for exploration permits.

“There is really no need for a new law to declare their area mining-free because the existing law has adequate provisions for it,” Mr. Moncano said.

During his first hearing at the Commission on Appointments, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu was asked about pending House bills that seek to declare some provinces mining-free zones.

Mr. Cimatu, whose confirmation was deferred last week, said the department will “properly” evaluate these bills.

To date, at least eight bills which, among others, proposed the declaration of mining-free zones in seven separate locations, have yet to be approved at both chambers of Congress.

Areas covered by the bills include the second district of Sorsogon, the cities of Cagayan De Oro and Davao, and the provinces of Catanduanes, Nueva Vizcaya, Eastern Samar and Biliran. — Janina C. Lim

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR