By Madelaine B. Miraflor
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu is set to forge the administrative order (AO) that will require miners to do progressive rehabilitation.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu
Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) Executive Director Ronald Recidoro said yesterday that COMP, which is composed of the country's biggest miners, will meet Cimatu today to settle the issues surrounding the proposed policy on progressive rehabilitation.
However, an official from Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Department Administrative Order (DAO) on progressive rehabilitation is now up for approval of Cimatu.
The DAO, which is set to be issued, will only allow miners to operate within 50 hectares of their contract area before they can move to another portion of their mine site.
It was in October last year when Jonas Leones, undersecretary at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), earlier said the government is looking at increasing the rehabilitation funds that are required of miners as well as come up with a policy that will oblige them to do progressive rehabilitation while their operations are still on going.
The point, according to him, is to emphasize to the public that it is possible for mine sites not to look too destructive.
Philippines is currently the leading producer of nickel, while it also exports gold, copper, iron ore, chromium, zinc and silver.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu
Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) Executive Director Ronald Recidoro said yesterday that COMP, which is composed of the country's biggest miners, will meet Cimatu today to settle the issues surrounding the proposed policy on progressive rehabilitation.
However, an official from Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Department Administrative Order (DAO) on progressive rehabilitation is now up for approval of Cimatu.
The DAO, which is set to be issued, will only allow miners to operate within 50 hectares of their contract area before they can move to another portion of their mine site.
It was in October last year when Jonas Leones, undersecretary at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), earlier said the government is looking at increasing the rehabilitation funds that are required of miners as well as come up with a policy that will oblige them to do progressive rehabilitation while their operations are still on going.
The point, according to him, is to emphasize to the public that it is possible for mine sites not to look too destructive.
Philippines is currently the leading producer of nickel, while it also exports gold, copper, iron ore, chromium, zinc and silver.