The DENR disclosed the highlights of the report of the Technical Review Teams (TRTs) which were commissioned by the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) to conduct an objective, fact-finding and science-based review of the performance of twenty-six (26) mining companies in the country.

The MICC review covered nineteen (19) nickel mines, three (3) gold and gold and copper mines, three (3) chromite mines and two (2) magnetite/iron mines, for a total of twenty-seven (27) mines of twenty six (26) mining companies. It assessed the mining companies’ practices in terms of the following aspects: legal, technical, environmental, social and economic.

The MICC review categorized mining companies’ practices into:

Description Score
Acceptable 3
Minor Corrections 2
Major Reforms 1
Not Acceptable 0

The rating system provides a snapshot of the assessment after the Review Teams conducted their field visits, performed their analyses, and discussed with team-members and co-specialists.
In order to separate the mining companies that had the most problems from those with fewer issues, a 1.5 cut-off average score per aspect was determined as the threshold. This cut-off is fifty percent of the highest score of 3 as an acceptable level of performance.

Among the 26 mining companies, four, or 15% of the total, have legal rating that are lower than 1.5 - Zambales Development Mining Corporation, Claver Mining Development Corporation, Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation, and Mt. Sinai Mining Exploration and Development.

Four mining companies, also 15% of the total, have technical scores that are lower than 1.5 - Claver, Oriental Synergy, SinoSteel, and Ore Asia.
On the environmental aspect, eight (8) companies scored below the passing rating of 1.5. They are Claver Mineral Development Corporation, Wellex Mining Corporation Mine 1, Libjo Mining Corporation, Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation, Oriental Vision Mining Phil. Corporation, Sinosteel Phil. N.Y. Mining Corporation, Krominco Inc. and Ore Asia Mining and Development Corporation

The social aspect of the review showed that twelve (12) companies scored below the threshold. These are Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines, Eramen Minerals, Inc., LNL Archipelago Minerals, Inc., Claver Mineral Development Corporation, Carrascal Nickel Corporation, AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration and Development Corporation, Wellex Mining Corporation Mine 1, Wellex Mining Corporation Mine 2, Mt. Sinai Mining Exploration and Development, Emir Minerals Corp., Ore Asia Mining and Development Corporation and Strongbuilt Mining Development Corporation.

In terms of the economic aspect, only two (2) companies scored lower than the threshold. They are Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation and Ore Asia Mining Development Corporation.

Based on the Report, three (3) mining companies are most problematic for majority of the aspects reviewed. Three (3) companies, Claver Mineral Development Corporation, Oriental Synergy, and Ore Asia, have three to four average aspect scores that are less than 1.5. DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu issued order affirming the cancellation of the MPSAs/denial of MPSA application of these companies.
The MICC Report also includes case studies on the Economic Analysis of Specific Options for Selected Mining Companies. They are:

• Benguet Corporation, BC (gold mining) – alternative uses of the inactive Antamok for Benguet Water Supply or Engineered Sanitary Land Fill


• Oriental Vision Mining Philippine Corporation, OVMPC (nickel mining) in Dinagat Island – land use alternatives (agro-forestry)

• Hinatuan Mining Corporation, HMC (nickel mining)– alternative land use to mining in a small island setting 


• Zambales nickel mines: Benguet Nickel Mines, Inc., BNMI; Eramen Minerals Inc., EMI, LNL Arhipelago Minerals, LNL Archipelago Minerals, In. LAMI; Zambales Diversified Minerals, ZDMC – management of silt that drain into common water bodies

• Strongbuilt Mining Development Corporation (magnetite/iron) – alternative scale combined with agricultural crop production

The Report generally showed that for the majority of mining companies, improvements in technical and environmental management practices need to continue and scale up.
It should be noted that the Report also acknowledged that there had been efforts by at least half of the companies to rectify and correct inappropriate practices.
Some policy recommendations mentioned in the Report include the development of guidelines for Care and Maintenance Period, retooling of the Multipartite Monitoring Team, implementation of a “one-stop” for mining permit and document processing, and the determination of minerals in direct-shipping ores (DSOs).
Sec. Cimatu already tasked the MGB to implement the recommendations of the MICC Review Team.

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 16 November 2018

Hits: 847

The highly touted efforts to rehabilitate the world-famous Boracay Island take center stage as the Philippines hosts the 2018 East Asian Seas Congress in Iloilo City on November 27-30.

Organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Partnerships in Environmental Management of the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), the four-day congress will bring together international organizations, experts and multi-sector stakeholders to exchange knowledge and build capacity towards sustainable management and use of marine resources, seas and oceans.

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said a statement read by DENR Undersecretary Jonas R. Leones, the regional meeting is “very timely” as it comes just weeks after one of the country’s most popular resort islands was reopened to the general public following a six-month rehabilitation from environmental damage brought about by overdevelopment.

“We are honored to host this year’s East Asian Seas Congress given the importance that President Rodrigo Duterte has placed on the health of our seas and oceans, particularly with the rehabilitation of Boracay,” Cimatu said.

The triennial regional conference, Cimatu said, is as an “opportune time to strengthen partnerships in the region” through the sharing of initiatives and best practices on integrated coastal management (ICM) that will help manage and protect marine life and promote a blue economy.

“A blue economy does not only consider business revenues,” Cimatu pointed out. “More important, it considers how the proper use and care of marine resources can provide employment and food security to many people.”

According to Cimatu, the improved waters of Boracay will regenerate marine life and provide livelihood to its residents.

Aside from Cimatu, the environment ministers from 10 other PEMSEA member countries—Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Laos, South Korea, Singapore, Timor Leste and Vietnam—are expected to attend the conference.

This year’s theme is “25 Years of Partnerships for Healthy Oceans, People and Economies, Moving as One with the Global Ocean Agenda.”

Among others, the conference aims to further strengthen the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia at the regional, national and local levels, with focus on the Sustainable Development Goal No. 14, Life Below Water, which targets the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, seas and oceans.

The highlight of this year’s congress will be the ministerial forum on “Perspectives on Ocean Leadership Issue from International/Regional Organizations,” which is expected to end with a Ministerial Declaration from 11 PEMSEA member nations.

The declaration will affirm the commitment of the participating ministers for the next three years to improve the management of the region’s shared oceans.

A plenary event called “Ocean Talk and Sea Exchange,” featuring presentations on various ocean issues, will be held on a daily basis during the entire conference. Each presentation will be followed by the Sea Exchange, a sharing of insights and perspectives of the topics discussed in the preceding talks.

There will also be an Environmental Exhibit where organizations will showcase their innovations and progress on various aspects of sustainable coastal and ocean management.

The Partnership Hubs will bring together PEMSEA partners and collaborating organizations to discuss best practices and identify alternative opportunities for investment, among others.

Another major activity is the 5th EAS Youth Forum to be attended by young leaders from all over East Asian region. This forum seeks to generate youth involvement in the implementation of ICM.

The PEMSEA Network of Local Governments will also hold its General Assembly and Annual Planning Meeting Workshop to identify common programs on research, curriculum and community service for the PEMSEA Network of Learning Center.

A field visit to Guimaras will cap the congress on the last day.

The congress is supported by the Global Environment Facility, United Nations Development Programme, and Iloilo provincial and city governments. #

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 15 November 2018

Hits: 838

An inter-agency task force led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is all set to replicate the “Boracay model of rehabilitation” in Palawan province and other top tourist destinations in the country.

In a press conference, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said the DENR, together with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), is ready to go full blast with the rehabilitation of other tourist spots, particularly Palawan’s El Nido and Coron.

“As the rehabilitation efforts in Boracay are ongoing until December, we decided to continue the President’s mandate to check the other top tourist destinations in the country,” said Cimatu, who heads the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force in charge of rehabilitating the world-famous island.

Cimatu made the announcement following a closed-door meeting with DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat and DILG Secretary Eduardo Año held at the DENR central office in Quezon City.

The DENR chief promised that he will “dedicate a large portion of the DENR presence in Palawan” to focus on the rehabilitation of El Nido and Coron.

“We have to maintain Palawan as the last ecological frontier of the country,” Cimatu said.

He, however, clarified that El Nido and Coron will not be closed down to tourists just like what the government did to Boracay, which underwent a six-month rehabilitation before it was reopened last October 26.

Instead, he said that only the establishments with violations will be shut down.

Aside from Palawan, the task force will also visit Panglao Island in Bohol and Siargao in Surigao del Norte next week, Cimatu said.

“Since we have already started in Boracay, let’s continue these rehabilitation efforts for the sake of the Philippines and the Filipino people, so that they can have something to be proud of,” Cimatu said.

Meanwhile, Cimatu said he already instructed the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau to check the water quality in El Nido.

He revealed that a study on El Nido’s carrying capacity will also be conducted.

Just like in Boracay, Cimatu said the DENR will make sure that all establishments in El Nido will be required to have sewage and wastewater treatment facilities. ###

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 15 November 2018

Hits: 910

After leading government efforts to rid Boracay of its “cesspool” tag, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu is up for yet another difficult task of tackling the issue of solid waste management (SWM) across the country.

Cimatu announced on Monday that all field offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be directed to intensify the information campaign on proper waste disposal with focus on children and youth.

The environment chief made the announcement during the weekly flag-raising ceremony held at the DENR central office in Quezon City.

Cimatu said he believes that public education and involvement can positively impact the environmental attitudes and behaviors of young people and increase their knowledge on SWM.

He said the difficulty of changing attitude towards trash lies in preventing people from littering or managing their waste – whether on the streets or in establishments or homes, and whether or not disposal units are available or visible.

According to Cimatu, it has been particularly challenging to prevent littering because Filipinos have been used to others cleaning up after them.

“Nasanay na magtatapos tapos hahayaan na lang na may ibang kukuha o maghihintay na may ibang maglilinis,” he said.

Cimatu said that Boracay’s closure and the viral photos of trash found on the beachfront during the dry run to the October 26 reopening of the world famous island helped people appreciate the seriousness of the problem on solid waste.

Meanwhile, Cimatu reminded the public that much of the waste they throw on the streets, shorelines and other public places make their way into bodies of water.

“Di naman basta susulpot ang garbage sa rivers kung walang nagtapon,” he said.

He said that some of the garbage in the seas may also come from trash dumped by passing ships, and later washed onto the coasts by storm-driven waves.

Despite a growing clamor for him to tackle the Manila Bay issue, Cimatu said he would rather address first the garbage problem before reducing the coliform level in the bay.

“Uunahin ko muna ito because solid waste is a problem, and will be a problem in years to come,” he explained.

He nevertheless vowed to continue to run after those responsible for dumping waste in Manila Bay and its tributaries including Laguna de Bay, which shores had been reclaimed and is now subject of a case filed by the Laguna Lake Development Authority, an attached agency of the DENR. #

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 14 November 2018

Hits: 844

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has promised to take swift action to deal with the tons of garbage shipped to the Philippines from South Korea.

“Hindi natin hahayaang humaba ang [isyung] ito,” DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and LGU Concerns Benny D. Antiporda said, referring to the recent discovery of the garbage shipment at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) in Misamis Oriental province.

According to Antiporda, DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu wanted the matter “resolved as soon as possible.”

Antiporda said the DENR, through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), is now conducting a waste analysis and characterization study of the shipment that was wrongfully declared as “plastic synthetic flakes.”

He said “appropriate action” will be taken once the results of the study are released, possibly within this week.

If the contents of the shipment are found to be hazardous, Antiporda said the DENR will recommend its return to the country of origin, as well as the filing of administrative and criminal charges against those involved.

The shipment was consigned to South Korean company Verde Soko II Industrial Corp., which operates a 4.5 hectare waste recycling facility within the Phividec Industrial Estate in Tagoloan town.

Containing about 5,100 tons of garbage, the shipment arrived at the MCT on board MV Affluent Ocean last July 21.

Initial findings showed that the shipment contained used dextrose tubes, used diapers, batteries, bulbs and electronic equipment.

Upon verification with the EMB, the shipment was not covered by any DENR-issued importation clearance. The consignee, Verde Soko, is not even registered as an importer of recyclable materials.

Under the DENR policy, registered importers are required to secure the necessary import clearances from the DENR at least 30 days before the actual importation. ###

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

Category: Press Releases

Published: 13 November 2018

Hits: 861