FOREIGN investors and businessmen were assured on Wednesday that “a very clear policy” on mining will be issued next month. President Aquino, in announcing his assurances, said he hoped the policy will put an end to the regulatory conflicts at the national and local government levels over mining policies.
Mr. Aquino told businessmen at a Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) forum on Thursday that the committee he created to review the mining industry and come up with policy recommendations is close to concluding its task.
He said the committee, consisting of experts from the Cabinet, has already submitted a preliminary report that is now being circulated to the different departments for their comments.
“I think the middle of February will be an opportune time to finish all their inputs and we will come up with a very clear policy with regards to the mining industry not later than the end of February,” the President said at the JFC’s Arangkada 2010 First Anniversary Assessment forum at the Marriott Hotel.
He said the government will make sure the environment and ecology will be protected while the gains of the mining industry will be maximized at the same time.
Julian H. Payne, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, said he was sure big mining companies will be keenly awaiting the issuance of the new mining policies and what would be covered.
He said the new policies should address three major concerns: the inconsistent regulations at the national and local government levels, the slow remittances of mining royalties from the national government to the municipalities and provinces that are hosting mining operations, and the problem with illegal small-scale miners.
Payne said investors are currently being held back by the wave of local ordinances that are contrary to the provisions of the Mining Act of 2005, particularly on the ban on open-pit mining.
“They [mining investors] are now waiting for clear signals [from the government] because of what is happening. We hope it will be included in the new policies and definitely, it will open the gates for more responsible explorations and mining activities in the country,” Payne told the BusinessMirror.
Payne said they have no problem with the Mining Act. The concern, however, is with the implementation.
He said investors could not just take the risk of spending millions of dollars for explorations and initial operations just to be stopped later by actions of the LGUs.
Payne said the big mining investors are sure to conduct their operations responsibly, so the groups that are opposed to mining should train their sights on the illegal small-scale miners.
“They [illegal small-scale miners] are the real causes of the environmental problems, the landslides and violations of the indigenous peoples’ rights. The government is also not getting revenues from them,” he said.
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By: Max V. de Leon
Source: Business Mirror, Jan. 26, 2012
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