MICC review of suspended mines out in March

THE Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) is expected to release by the end of March the results of its review of mines ordered shut down or suspended last year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

Secretary Roy A. Cimatu told reporters that the department will also be meeting with companies whose operations were halted by the previous DENR secretary, Regina Paz L. Lopez.

“I emphasized the need for them to shape up… I’m calling them in [for a meeting] in February,” he added.

Mr. Cimatu said companies that continue to disregard mining regulations will remain closed.

The MICC is mandated to conduct a review on mining operations every two years but failed to do so last year amid the closure of 26 mines.

The interagency panel is also expected to release a preliminary report this month.

Mr. Cimatu also said that while the government remains wary of open- pit mining, the DENR may propose a conditional approval of the mining method, which is economically more efficient than other forms of digging but is thought to be more damaging to the landscape.

“Open-pit mining digs up the ground too much and it exposes so much. What we’re doing is [suggesting that they switch to] operations where after an area has been stripped, it will have to be filled up by greenery,” he added.

“[ In the open- pit mining], they’ll dig up 2,000 square meters and leave it as is. But now we’ll have to limit it to around 200 square meters [per strip],” Mr. Cimatu said.

“That is the solution we have for the unnecessary exposure of the mining pit to avoid run-off. I’ll have to see first if they’re (the mining firms) going to comply,” he added. —