Miners to spend

Mining companies have committed 140 billion only in combined expenditures to comply with certain provisions on sustainable development and environmental protection of their respective operations under the Philippine Mining Act.

The amount may appear huge but actually pales in comparison to the 154.57-billion total value of the country’s metallic mineral production in the first half of the year alone.

A latest data from Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) showed that mining companies have so far committed to spend 139.74 billion for their plans and programs related to sustainable development and environmental protection/rehabilitation, which are imbedded in the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 or Republic Act No. 7942.

Under the law, miners should allot funds to Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programs (EPEP), and Final Mine Rehabilitation and/ or Decommissioning Plans (FMR/DP).

As of June 2018, the estimated amount committed by mining companies for the development of their host and neighboring communities through their approved SDMP was about 116.81 billion.

Around 790 barangays stand to benefit from the implementation of approved community/social projects of various companies.

The SDMP is a tool for the development and implementation of community programs, projects and activities for the host and neighboring communities of a mining project/area.

It is a five-year plan geared towards the development of responsible, self-reliant and resource-based communities capable of developing, implementing and managing development programs, projects and activities.

This shall be funded through mining companies’ annual allotment of a 1.5 percent of their operating cost which shall be divided accordingly: 75 percent for the development of host and neighboring community; 10 percent for the development of mining technology and geosciences; 15 percent for the institutionalization of public awareness and education on mining and geosciences.

Also for the same period, the amount committed by mining companies for the implementation of approved plans/programs/projects/ activities for EPEP and FMR/DP were at 120.39 billion and 12.55 billion, respectively.

EPEP provides the description of the expected impacts of the mine and sets out the life-of-mine environmental protection and enhancement strategies based on best practice in environmental management in mining.

FMR/DP, on the other hand, is the process of returning the mine sites and affected areas to viable and, whenever practicable, selfsustaining ecosystems that are compatible with a healthy environment and with human activities.

At present, the Philippines has remained one of the world's biggest nickel exporters, with bulk of its production being shipped to China.