Caraga dev’t plan calls for shift away from mining
MINES in the Caraga region may not be allowed to expand to balance out development in those provinces and protect the environment, according to the 2017-2022 Regional Development Plan (RDP).
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said in a statement that the RDP, launched Tuesday, calls for alternatives to mining and will limit operations to existing areas in Caraga, which consists of the Agusan and Surigao provinces as well as Dinagat island, all in the northeastern corner of Mindanao.
Caraga hosts the largest number of operating mines of any region.
The RDP called on local governments to explore alternatives to mining as the region transitions to other economic activities.
“While mining in the region will remain a key sector, in the interest of sustainable development and protecting ecological integrity, mining will be limited to existing mining areas excluding watersheds within the mining concessions,” NEDA Undersecretary Adoracion M. Navarro said.
The industry has been under pressure from the new government, whose first environment secretary suspended mining operations, while President Rodrigo R. Duterte himself threatened miners with higher taxes if they do not do more to protect the environment.
“Rehabilitation of mined-out areas will also be strictly undertaken. The region will also have to diversify its economy towards fisheries, agro-forestry, and ecotourism,” Ms. Navarro added.
“A transition period should be in place for communities that rely heavily on mining. During this time, alternatives to mining should be identified to introduce sustainable sources of income for the people in the region,” Ms. Navarro said.
NEDA Regional Director Mylah Faye Aurora B. Cariño said: “We should develop more economic drivers that create a balance of production and environmental protection.”
Former Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez led a 10-month campaign to rein in the mining industry, ordering early in February the closure or suspension of 28 of 41 operational mines and imposing a ban on open-pit mining.
Mr. Duterte in his second State of the Nation Address said he wanted to stop exporting unprocessed mineral resources and warned miners he would impose more taxes on the industry to raise money to help communities hurt by their operations.
The Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. on Feb. 17 issued a resolution asking policy makers to consider, among others, the regional impact of policies, noting that in Caraga region alone the 25 operating large-scale mining firms contribute 28.5% and 32.5% directly and indirectly to gross regional domestic product, account for 98% of regional exports and employ 28,000 skilled workers.
Currently, Caraga accounts for about 1% of the country’s gross domestic product ( GDP), and a little over 8% of Mindanao’s GDP, according to NEDA.
Caraga’s industry sector accounts for 35.1% of its gross regional domestic product (GRDP), and 20.1% of which is represented by mining and quarrying.
The region targets a gradual increase in its GRDP growth from a 2.5% in 2017, to 7.1-7.8% by 2022.
“This will be mainly led by growth in the Services Sector, which is expected to expand by 7.5-7.6% in 2022. Caraga’s economy will also be supported by growth in the Industry Sector, which is expected to grow by 8-8.5% in 2022, and a vibrant agriculture and fishery sector, which will yield 2-6% growth in 2022,” the RDP read.
It also aims to lower poverty incidence from 30.8% in 2015 to 22.05-20.3% in 2022. It likewise expects employment to rise to 95.3% from 94.5% currently. —