PH-EITI conducts mine visit in Benguet

A MULTI STAKEHOLDERS group, representing the government, the extractive industry and the civil society recently visited a mine firm in Mankayan, Benguet.

The Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a multi-stakeholder organization that promotes a global standard for transparency in extractive industries such as mining, oil and gas by requiring companies to disclose what they pay to government, and government to publish what they collect from these companies visited Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company.

The group together with national coordinator Attorney Maria Karla Espinosa earlier visited the mine firm as part of their stakeholder engagement and capacity building for the Cordillera.

"We want our stakeholders to know more about the industry. We should also equip ourselves and be capacitated. we do mine visit not only in the mine itself but also the community," Espinosa said.

During community visits and mine tours, the company provides copy of their reports and talk about the role of the PH-EITI. The group not only looks into the mine operations, but also talks to the community affected by the mining industries.

The multi-stakeholder group releases an annual country report and conducts outreach to stakeholders in the sector through the EITI process as comprehensive information about the sector are made publicly available.

Furthermore, issues are identified and discussed, and policy recommendations are formulated and pursued to improve governance of the sector.

On March 2018, EITI will conduct its launching of its annual report and will undergo series of roadshow and forums.

"While we equip ourselves with knowledge and share, we also contribute to better understanding of the industry in the future," said Espinosa.

This year, EITI plans to visit more barangays and communities to provide information dissemination.

Extractive companies are mandated to comply with the order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Last year, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau has mandated mining contractors to comply with Administrative Order 2017-07 signed by former environment Secretary Regina Lopez requiring all mining contractors to comply with the requirements of the PH-EITI.

Currently, Espinosa said there are 36 companies, 31 in mining industry and five remaining in the industries of oil and gas handled by the multi-stakeholder group.