Miners are calling for reforms in the mining industry including the spinning off of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) into a separate body independent from the Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR).
Manuel Pangilinan, Philex Mining Corp. chairman, said at the Mining Philippines 2023 International Conference in Mandaluyong City last week the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is in charge of the promotion, development and supervision of mining while EMB is mandated to enforce environmental laws on mining.
Both are under the supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“These apparently conflicting goals can, at times, place the DENR in a policy dilemma. Our suggestion is to spin off the EMB into a separate and independent body similar to the environmental protection agency in the US. We don’t need to create a new department with a separate budget,” Pangilinan said.
Tulsi Das Reyes, DMCI Mining president, in a briefing in Baguio City over the weekend, pushes for the streamlining of permits for the mining industry, similar to the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) being administered by the Department of Energy in the power sector.
EVOSS established a technology and operations management software platform for all government entities to promote a unified permitting system for energy related projects.
“If we can replicate that with the same ideals that will be great. Right now, we go through to EMB, FMB (Forest Management Bureau), central, regional directors (to get permits),” Reyes said.
Reyes added having a one-stop shop in mining may also help clarify national government policies, especially if these run in conflict with those enforced by local government units.
