In a bid to revamp the image of the mining industry, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) sought to strengthen the regulation of small-scale mining operations, particularly in monitoring mine waste management and disposal of residual stockpiles outside mining sites.
The newest directive from the agency was implemented through Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2019-19 which aims to speed up the environmental restoration during and after the operations of the Minahang Bayan.
Per DAO, small-scale mining operations will now have to meet stricter conditions in the disposal of residual stockpiles and ores previously extracted but not yet disposed during the mining contract.
This directive will also be in lieu of the Environment Management Plan (EMP) which requires firms to protect and rehabilitate the disturbed environment during and after the disposition of residual stockpiles.
“We understand the negative view of mining, but we want the public to know that mining is not the same as it was before the Mining Act of 1995. The MGB is always working to improve the regulations on mining, to safeguard environmental protection, and protect the community,” MGB Director Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano stated.
Furthermore, regulations that aim to encourage operators to become legal and adhere to environment and safety standards included the provision of incentives in legalizing small-scale mining operations, the fast-tracking of application processes for various licenses, and the exemption from excise and income taxes.
The agency also facilitated a Global Environment Facility-funded project that sought to eliminate the usage of mercury in small-scale gold mining operations.
“The approach really has to be inclusive. Outright prohibition and taxation only pushes small-scale miners into the black market,” Moncano expressed,
This initiative was in line with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the MGB’s campaign on responsible mining. Dubbed #MineResponsibility, the campaign aims to educate the public on the regulation of mining, to promote responsible mining practices, and to show that the government is committed to the priority of upholding the safety of people and environment in the mining industry.
