Environment Secretary Regina Lopez said Tuesday only eleven of the 41 operating metallic mines in the country passed the mining audit.
“The audit was finished on the end of August. After that, we had a series of consolidation of results. Eleven mines have passed the audit and 20 need to get their acts together,” Lopez said in a news briefing. The department earlier suspended the operations of 10 mines.
The Environment Department said the companies that passed the audit were Philex Mining Corp., Rio Tuba Nickel Corp., Cagdianao Mining Corp., Carmen Copper Corp., Techiron Res. Inc., Apex Mining Co. Inc., Taganito Mining Corp., Platinum Group Metals Corp., Greenstone Resources Corp., Pacific Nickel Philippines Inc. and Philsaga Mining Corp.
Lopez said while these companies passed the audit, she would still make sure their operations would be better. “They are running their operations much better than the others. However, in efforts to get better, even if they passed, I still want to talk to them and push them a little better,” she said.
Environment Undersecretary for environment and head of mining audit team Leo Jasareno said 20 companies did not pass the audit for violating mining and environmental laws and for having inadequate social development program.
“These companies will be given due process. They will be provided with a report and seven days to explain why they should not be held viable for the violations,’ Jasareno said.
“Once we receive the response to the explanation, the department will review the explanation. If the department will find that there is a reason for them to stop in the meantime, why they have to mitigate the violations then department will issue the suspension order,” said Jasareno.
These companies include Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co., Benguet Corp., OceanaGold Philippines Inc., Filminera Resources Corp., Strongbuilt Mining Development Corp., AAMPhil Natural Res. Explo & Dev. Corp., Admana Mining Res. Corp., Minimax Mineral Explo Corp. and Carrascal Mining Corp.
Other mining companies that failed the audit were Century Peak Corp., CTP Construction and Mining Corp., Agata Mining Ventures Inc., SR Metals Inc., Wellex Mining Corp., Krominco Inc., Libjo Mining Corp., Marcventures Mining and Development Corp., Norweah Metals & Minerals Co. Inc., Oriental Synergy Mining Corp. and Sinosteel Phils HY Mining Corp.
Benguet Corp. expressed surprise and took exception to the findings and recommendation of DENR to suspend the company due to non-rehabilitation of the Antamok open pit, saying “it has continuously exerted efforts to initiate projects including converting it into a bulk water project and a waste to energy facility.”
“Local government units have in fact requested and endorsed the pursuit of the projects, signing memorandum of agreements with BC as early as June 2016. While the company recognizes there was delay in the rehabilitation of the open pit for reasons beyond its control, it has not abandoned it,” Benguet Corp. said.
“Benguet Corp. remains committed to the rehabilitation of Antamok. It is well aware of its obligations as a responsible mining company. As an ISO: 14001 certified company, it has always been a step ahead in the implementation of rehabilitation projects that will redound to the benefits of the communities where it operates,” it said.
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines also decried the audit results, saying the mining audit was done “in a punitive manner rather than objectively.”
“When you suddenly change the rules of the game, there should have been an earlier dialog between companies and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources given that the audit report was already finished in August. As early as August, the alleged violations could have already been addressed instead of setting a trap for suspension,” said CoMP vice president for policy Ronald Recidoro.
