The Eastern Samar provincial government has established an inter-agency group dedicated to overseeing mining companies’ activities and verifying their compliance with the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
In a report by the Philippine Star, Eden Ivy Rose Balagasay, a legal officer in Eastern Samar said the provincial government now actively participates in the multipartite monitoring team (MMT) and the mine rehabilitation fund (MRF) committee.
These groups are responsible for ensuring that mining entities adhere to the regulations outlined in the Philippine Mining Act and the mining-related provisions of the 1991 Local Government Code.
Governor Ben Evardone has taken serious steps to oversee mining operations, emphasizing full compliance with environmental laws, protection of workers and local communities, and adherence to financial commitments to local government units.
Balagasay, designated by Evardone, represents the provincial government in these monitoring committees and has appealed to the DENR and its affiliated agencies to include Eastern Samar in the regional inter-agency committee.
The provincial government has actively engaged in quarterly monitoring activities, particularly focusing on mining operations in Homonhon Island near the town of Guiuan since the beginning of the year.
