MGB designs scorecard to measure performance of mining companies
As part of its efforts to promote responsible mining, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the agency tasked to regulate the highly scrutinized extractive industry, is set to launch a scorecard that will measure the performance of all operating mines in the country at any given time.
MGB Chief for Mines Safety, Environment, and Social Development Rodolfo Velasco said the agency is currently designing a scorecard to assess regulation in the mining industry as well as measure its impact in the communities.
"That should be launched very soon. It will be implemented through a memorandum circular," Velasco said.
Right now, MGB is "in consultation process" to capacitate its regional offices as the ones who will observe the scorecard.
At the same time, MGB is also pushing for a 'Standard Monitoring System' to be followed by all MGB Regional Offices nationwide.
The system, according to him, will be used to monitor all miners. Right now, MGB Regional Offices don't follow a unified system to monitor mining companies.
For this, MGB will draft a "Standard Monitoring Guideline".
In December, in line with the Presidential directive on the simplification of procedures and streamlining of requirements in permit applications, the Mining Tenements Management Division (MTMD) of MGB conducted a seminar-workshop on the standardization of the processing of mining applications and field validation.
Meanwhile, in a recent consultation meeting conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the MGB, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu ordered the miners to plant trees and to continue to do progressive rehabilitation work on their open-pit mines in compliance with the directives of President Rodrigo Duterte on the protection of the environment.
The miners were given six months to “continue greening the bald areas” in mining sites and do revegetation work to restore the balance and make their areas more pleasing to look at.
They were also told to plant fast-growing trees and shrubs that thrive regardless of the weather, since the President is expecting to see trees “as tall as him” by October.
The order is in keeping with the role of the DENR and MGB as stewards of the environment while regulating and keeping the mining industry thriving through responsible practices.
Cimatu also announced that the partial results of the DENR mine audit have been submitted to him already and that the Department is currently “harmonizing” the results with those of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC).
It was previously reported that the DENR and the MICC would conduct a “fact-finding and science-based” review and re-evaluation of the 26 mines that were ordered closed or suspended by then former Environment Secretary Regina Paz Lopez.
He also confirmed that the combined results will be final and that some mines will be penalized.
The consultation was the third leg in the series of monthly meetings of the DENR and MGB with mining stakeholders to come up with effective policy reforms for the mining industry.