ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA FORUM WITH MINING COMPANIES
Lungsod ng Baguio – Tinalakay sa Kapihan on Responsible Mining and its contribution to the economy and regional development hosted by PIA-CAR Regional Director Helen Tibaldo na ginanap sa MGB Multipurpose Hall noong February 21, 2022.
Pinangunahan ito ng Mines and Geosciences Bureau – CAR nina MGB-CAR Regional Director Fay W. Apil, at ang mga katuwang na nasa Mine Management Division, Chief Alfredo J. Genetiano at MSESDD OIC Augustine Baliang Jr.
Nagpahayag ng mga ulat ang bawat representative ng Mining Company ay sina Atty Eduardo Aratas ng Philex Mining Corporation, Butch Mendizabal, Communication Head ng Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMC), Eric S. Andal – OIC, Resident Manager ng Itogon Suyoc Resources, Inc. at Atty Froilan Lawilao ng Benguet Corp.
Nagpakita rin ng visual presentations ng Responsible Mining Best Practices ang Lepanto at ang ISRI na kung saan ang pagiging responsible mining sa pamamagitan ng safety first policy na kanilang pinaiiral ay dito nagtatamo ng sustainable development at sa gitna ng pandemiya ay unti-unti na aniya nakakabangon ang mga malalaking kumpanya ng minahan sa Cordillera.
Binuksan naman ni MMD Chief Genetiano kaugnay sa sitwasyon ng Western Minolco Mining Company sa inilabas nitong report sa katayuan ng inabandunang Western Minolco Mining Company na matatagpuan sa Municipalities ng Kibungan, Kapangan at Atok, Benguet,
Sinabi ni Genetiano, “A field visit conducted last August 23-24, 2021, the fieldwork was undertaken pursuant to Travel Order Numbers 2k21-0690 to 93 issued to the following personnel of the Mine safety Environment and Social Division (MSESDD) and that to capture it all there will be a resumption of the Western Mining Minolco Corporation but, I answer this is that to rest assure that there will be no mining operations within the locality; and in that the activity now the undertaken is that regarding the rehabilitation, the possible rehabilitation the previous main issue,”
“The background of the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 under President Rodrigo Duterte Administration includes more aggressive strategies to rehabilitate, restore degraded natural resources and protect fragile ecosystems while improving the welfare of resource-dependent communities.
In line with this, MGB is tasked to address the negative impacts of past mining activities through remediation and rehabilitation of abandoned mines in the country.
“Today, there are eleven (11) remaining identified abandoned mines in the country, Six (6) of these have completed Risk Assessment and Preparation of Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The Risk Assessment study and preparation of EMP’s for the remaining five (5); which include WMMC are targeted to be completed within the next two years,”
When we say abandoned mines, it is a mine with no valid and exiting mining felement and no incomplete rehabilitation, an example are Sto Niño (Baguio Gold Mines), Western Minolco Corporation, Black Mountain and Benguet Exploration Incorporated, These are the ones that we research and I hope they already comply,” pagtatapos ni Genetiano.
Sinabi naman ni MGB-CAR Director Apil, “kaugnay sa Ipinatupad ng yumaong DENR Secretary Regina Paz Lopez ang nasabing pagbabawal apat na taon na ang nakalilipas, nabanggit ang epekto sa kapaligiran ng mga operasyon ng pagmimina na lumabag sa batas ng pagmimina” ay karamihan sa kanila ay nag appeal sa office ni President at na stay at pinayagan na sila to go ahead to their operations at yun mga hindi pa nagbibigay pa ng permit, they were given go signal to continue with their activities sa aspirations nila,”ani Apil, Mario D. Oclaman /FNS
