THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it has “meticulously observed” due process in the audit of existing metallic mines.
In a statement, Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez assured the public that the results of the mine audit, which will be announced on February 2, would promote social justice and the common good.
“We assure the industry and the general public that due process was meticulously observed in the mining audit conducted by the agency, and that the results would really promote the common good and social justice,” Lopez said.
Mining’s big players under the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines criticized the DENR chief for her focus on large-scale mining, while being “lenient” in regulating illegal small-scale mining activities.
Lopez has included environmental, biodiversity and social aspects of mining operations among the audit criteria, to promote responsible mining.
For Lopez, responsible mining means the integrity of the environment is not compromised and the activities involving the large-scale extraction of mineral deposits underneath the earth’s surface will not cause suffering among people.
A total of 15 teams from the DENR’s central and field offices, along with civil-society organization representatives, conducted the audit and submitted their recommendations for final evaluation of the DENR chief.
The audit came following President Duterte’s criticism of large-scale mining’s adverse impact to the environment.
In his first State of the Nation Address last July, Mr. Duterte said he had ordered a review of all permits granted to mining, logging and other similarly environmentally sensitive activities to ensure compliance with government standards.
The President also said, if warranted, the DENR may amend, suspend or revoke those permits. “There is a need for evaluation to see if these companies are complying with the laws. Responsible mining means people should not suffer,” Lopez said.
Barely a week at the DENR, Lopez ordered an industry-wide audit to look into the adequacy and efficiency of environmental-protection measures taken by the mining companies, determine gaps in those measures and identify the appropriate penalties for violations of mining and environmental laws.
Of the total 41 metallic miners reviewed by the DENR, only 11 of them “passed” the initial audit while the remaining 30 were either suspended or recommended for suspension for failing to meet environmental safety standards.