MICC decision on open-pit mining out next month

The Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) is expected to decide next month on whether the ban on openpit mining stays.

The MICC convened anew last Friday during which the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) presented before the Technical Working Group on Economic Affairs and Environment the technicalities of the open-pit mining method.

“Hopefully by October, the MICC will have its decision. The timeline is that, there will be another scheduled meeting two weeks after the last meeting (Friday). The TWG will present and consolidate its comments and proposals. Then the final proposal will be brought to the MICC,” MGB mining tenement management division chief Larry Heradez told The STAR.

Heradez attended the last MICC meeting in behalf of MGB director Wilfredo Moncano.

“During the meeting, we presented the technicalities (of the open-pit method), its physical characteristics, how it came about, and how mining companies are deciding whether to use open-pit or underground,” Heradez said.

However, he added the TWG is still looking for the environmental aspects of the open-pit method, which will then be tackled during the next MICC meeting.

“They still wanted to be abreast with the environmental provisions to safeguard mining operations. We will again present environmental provisions of the Mining Act and other laws, whether they are enough or not,” Heradez said.

While the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) maintained that the MICC remains to be recommendatory, it already became dependent on the multi-sectoral body on matters concerning the mining industry.

It was Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu who brought the open-pit ban issue on the MICC table even if he has all the administrative power to overturn former DENR chief Gina Lopez’s order in April.

“The MICC remains to be recommendatory and the Secretary will review it and consult the President and the Chamber (of Mines of the Philippines). As soon as there is a result of the evaluation, we will sit down and discuss this with stakeholders,” DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said.

“MICC is taking it at their own pace. But since there is already a clamor, I think they are fast tracking the review of the policy,” he added.

The MGB has been pushing for the lifting of the open-pit ban, saying the order has no legal basis. This was also the same sentiment of the local mining industry.

Open-pit is defined as an excavation or cut made on the surface of the ground for the purpose of extracting ore and which is open to the surface for the duration of the mine’s life.

Open-pit mining remains to be an internationally accepted method for mining and in the country, it is a legal in accordance to the Mining Act of the Philippines.

The Constitution even gives the state the duty to explore, develop, and utilize the country’s mineral resources.