MICC to start open pit mining study

A technical working group of inter-agency Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) is set to conduct a study on open pit mining that was banned by former environment secretary Regina Lopez in April.

Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin said in an interview on the sidelines of the economic forum organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) the study would be conducted in September.

“(The) MICC tasked the technical working group on economic affairs and on environment to again study whether open pit mining should be allowed or not. Because right now, there’s a department order that imposes a ban. We just have to restudy that,” he said.

Lopez, who was replaced by Roy Cimatu as head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources after she failed to hurdle the Commission on Appointments, issued DENR Administrative Order No. 2017-10 in April banning all prospective open-pit mines in the country.

“Remember, President Duterte met with mining companies. He has a statement there that he is not against open pit mining. He just wants that any damage that you caused, you have to fix,” he said.

Agabin, who is also the legal affairs head and in charge of the Domestic Finance Group of the Department of Finance, pointed out about 85 percent of the mines worldwide are open pit mines.

Open pit mining is a surface technique of extracting rocks or minerals from earth by their removal from an open pit or borrow.

“The issue there is can you manage it,” he said.

Agabin said, both the DOF and the DENR committed to contribute P10 million each to undertake the study on open pit mining.

He explained the study by the technical working group would be submitted to President Duterte and the DENR since the MICC is just an advisory body.