Photo credit: Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation
With the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issuing an order to lift the moratorium on the open-pit method in the country through DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2021-40 issued on Dec. 23, 2021, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Mine Safety, Environment, and Sustainable Development Division (MSESDD) Chief, Engr. Marcial M. Mateo went on “Kapamilya Konek”, radio program DZMM Teleradyo on January 11, 2021, to comment on repealing the open-pit mining ban.
The late DENR Secretary Regina Paz Lopez enforced the said ban four years ago, noting the environmental impacts of the mining operations that violated the mining law.
Engr. Mateo recalls that out of 51 metallic mines in operation at that time, 27 mines were suspended. He notes some of those suspended operations appealed their cases with Malacañang and DENR. While these mining operations have been suspended, they were still required to maintain their respective mine areas for their continued progressive environmental mitigation and rehabilitation activities.
He briefly explained the process of the open-pit mining method as part of surface mining and the advantages of such mining method to the national economy.
Prior to the ban of the open-pit mining method, the approval, and processing of mining operations were also halted by the late President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino during his term through the issuance of Executive Order (E.O) No. 79. Engr. Mateo states that through E.O 79, the government has required the mining industry to increase excise tax from 2% to 4%.
He also explains further that in DAO 2021-40, a team from DENR, EMB, and MGB will be assessing the surface mines to certify that their environment programs will be strictly implemented.
Article courtesy of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau
