DENR to probe water systems near mine sites

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) plans to look into several water systems near mining areas in the country to ensure the safety of host communities.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu met with non-government and civil society groups including Alyansa Tigil Mina and Save Sierra Madre Network to thresh out issues hounding the mining sector.

“The groups want DENR to look at the water systems that have been destroyed due to mining and we are going to do that,” DENR undersecretary Jonas Leones told The STAR.

“We will be creating a team, a multi-disciplinary team that will look into their claims. We understand their issues and the Secretary’s primary concern is the safety and health of the people,” he added.

The team will comprise members of DENR-attached agencies Mines and Geosciences Bureau and Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Health and the Department of Labor and Employment.

Among the areas that will be looked at are water contamination, water quality and displacement of people in the areas.

In particular, mining areas in Nueva Vizcaya, Zambales and Aroroy in Masbate are among the top sites where groups claim of water systems destruction.

NGOs want DENR to issue a department administrative order directing the restoration of the rivers affected, diverted, contaminated and destroyed.

“There’s no need for a separate order because we already have the Clean Water Act and part of that is the restoration and rehabilitation. That’s what we plan to do,” Leones said.

Cimatu has been urging the mining industry to “reinvent” themselves by working with the government in rehabilitating affected lands and enhancing environmental protection activities.

According to Cimatu, “reinventing” the mining industry is about providing the proper benefits to communities and by complying with the laws that aim to protect and conserve the country’s natural resources.