Audit reports near ready

The audit teams of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 are now finalizing their reports on metallic mining operations in Central Visayas.

The reports would be submitted to Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina “Gina” Paz Lopez, who earlier ordered a detailed audit of all mines nationwide as part of environmental governance.

“As we speak, the audit teams are now finalizing the audit reports to be submitted to the secretary,” said MGB-7 Director Loreto Alburo, who added that Lopez’s and the administration’s thrust right now is to push for responsible mining.

He said that for owners and companies to be called responsible mining operators, they must meet very important criteria, such as conforming to environmental regulations and implementing social development projects in the host community.

“This (audit) is an opportunity for us to really determine who are compliant and those who are not, because this is a detailed audit of all aspects of operation,” Alburo said.

The technical aspects of a mine’s extractive activities and reconciling necessary financial obligations, especially on paying the local taxes, were also looked into.

For mining firms in the region, Alburo said the companies had been compliant in paying local taxes, including excise tax.

“As per regulation, they (mining companies) will not be issued with our (MGB) transport permit if they cannot present proof of payment on excise tax. This (payment) is one of the requirements. As regard with the specific payment of excise tax, they are compliant,” he said.

In fact, the Philippine Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, in its 2015 report, said Central Visayas has the biggest collection of payments from mining companies.

Collated 2013 data showed that of the total local government units receipts amounting to P301.5 million nationwide, Central Visayas received the highest payments of local taxes from mining, oil, and gas companies among all regions, registering P92.96 million, or 30.8 percent of the total collection. The amount is mainly from Carmen Copper Corporation – a large-scale metallic mining company in Toledo City, Cebu.

“We are lucky to register the highest figure. This could probably be traced to the excise tax paid by Carmen Copper Corporation (CCC), (it) being a large mining operation. And of course from other taxes from these mining companies, including the small and medium ones,” said Alburo.

Of the 43 operating nationwide, CCC, operator of Atlas Mining Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. in Toledo City, west of Cebu City, is the lone metallic mining firm in Central Visayas.

Alburo said that after the audit of metallic mining operations, non-metallic or quarrying activities will be the next.

MGB-7 named eight operations in the region, with six in Cebu, namely: Apo Land and Quarry Corporation; Quarry Ventures Philippines Incorporation; GLR Concrete Aggregates Inc., all in the City of Naga; Solid Earth Development Corporation in San Fernando town; Dolomite Mining Corporation in Alcoy town; and Republic Cement and Building Materials Inc. in Danao City.

The seventh is Bohol Limestone Corp. in Bohol province, while the eight is Lazi Bay Resources and Development Inc. in Siquijor.

B. Miasco / RHM

May