Small-scale miners will soon be compelled to take part in the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) by consistently submitting reports of their financial performance.
In a news statement issued on Monday, Secretary Roy A. Cimatu of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that to improve transparency and accountability in the mining sector, all mining companies, whether those engaging in large-scale or small-scale mining, must take part in the PH-EITI.
Cimatu first made the assurance that all mining companies will comply through DENR Undersecretary for Mining Analiza R. Teh during the PH-EITI National Conference held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City last Wednesday. Teh represented the DENR chief in addressing the various stakeholders that took part in the event.
Cimatu reminded that under DENR Administrative Order 2017-07, mining companies are required to submit their report to the PH-EITI.
PH-EITI is a multi-stakeholder group that pushes for the local implementation of EITI, a global standard of transparency for improving governance of natural resources, including their prudent use and the management of natural wealth for the benefit of all citizens.
It also serves as a platform to systematically report, review and assess the revenues received by the government from extractive industries through a system of bilateral disclosure.
The PH-EITI is launching its Fourth Country Report, an enhanced version of the previous reports with the inclusion of large-scale nonmetallic mining projects.
The latest report presents updates on developments that affect the mining, oil and gas, and coal industries in the country, and provides a broad picture of the legal framework and governance mechanisms for extractive industries.
Mining companies must comply with the disclosure requirements of PH-EITI under the pain pain of nonissuance of Ore Transport and/or Mineral Export Permit, or worse—suspension of the a mining company’s Environmental Compliance Certificate or ECC, Cimatu warned.
The DENR chief underscored the need for future PH-EITI reports to be fully comprehensive by including the small-scale mining sector, which, although small in scale, comprise thousands of workers and their families.
“Ultimately, they also contribute a sizeable share to the economy, especially in the local front,” he said. “Let us work toward the inclusion of the small-scale mining sector in this initiative.”