DENR adopts digitalization initiatives to streamline mining applications

With the aim of streamlining the process of mining applications and permits, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) adopted its digitalization agenda while promoting sustainability and resilience in mining activities, through an additional layer of compliance for the mining sector’s key players.

DENR Secretary Carlos Primo David said they are investing in the digitalization of the processing of applications and permits, as well as the mining-related information across it.

The digitalization agenda should be geared towards achieving more efficient procedures which include streamlined, rapid, and transparent permits and applications processing, he added.

Currently, migrating the data into a single digital platform has been completed, excluding the last division in the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

The DENR hopes for at least six months of processing timeframe for a more efficient and transparent system in the MGB.

To review the processes and systems of MGB and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the DENR seeks the help of PwC Philippines.

Earlier, the two agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to determine areas of improvement in terms of processes and functions in the bureau, with PwC providing comprehensive assessment, technical partnership, and assistance, and developing a five-year transformation roadmap in order to strengthen DENR’s processes.

Recently, a new process called Negotiated Sustainability and Resilience Agreement (NSRA) for mining firms has been tested by the DENR, mainly intended to serve as another layer to the environmental certificate compliance (ECC) concluding in a 90-day time frame and is set to be fully implemented by 2024.