DENR forms team to review mine closure appeals

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it has formed a group to handle the appeals process for miners seeking to reverse the decision by the previous secretary to close them down.

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu told the Commission on Appointments during its hearing last week that the review of the appeals is being handled by DENR staff who were not previously involved in the process that led to the suspensions.

“[F]or those who applied for motion for reconsideration, I requested a study group as I was looking into the basis of the decision from the previous secretary,” Mr. Cimatu said.

He added that the group will review the technical and legal aspects of the decision to close 22 and suspend four mines.

“He wants those who were not involved in the decisions before,” Environment Undersecretary for Legal Maria Paz G. Luna said in an interview last week, and noted she was not involved in the process to close down mines.

She said the team has reviewed at least 10 cases as of the end of July.

Several sanctioned miners have filed their appeals with the Off ice of the President (OP), with the industry apparently counting on the OP to intervene, along with the Mining Industry Coordinating Council, which is conducting its own review.

The mining council tapped the Development Academy of the Philippines to implement and manage the review process for the 26 mines ordered closed or suspended.

The three-month review is targeted to begin by next month. —