Mining order release stalled

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is yet to close to books on the issues surrounding the mine closure and suspension orders that were issued by former Environment Secretary Regina Paz Lopez more than a year ago.

Right now, the DENR and the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) are on the process of consolidating the results of their respective review on the appeals the mining companies made to invalidate Lopez's decision.

And according to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, "the final result of the review will be made available for disclosure by August".

It was just three weeks ago when MICC cleared 23 of 27 mining companies that were assessed for compliance with state regulations.

To be specific, Finance Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin, who chaired the last MICC meeting, said that three nickel and one chromite mining operations did not pass the “criteria and benchmark” set by the audit teams.

This, however, is not yet final, with the body set to meet again on July 26 to finalize the assessments.

"[The final audit report is] being completed by MICC and once it's completed, it will be passed to me and I will already make a decision. They said that they will be able to finish it this July," Cimatu told reporters on Wednesday.