Open pit mining ban enforced soon – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos.

By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:24:00 03/24/2011

Filed Under: Government, Mining and quarrying

THE GOVERNMENT of South Cotabato is bent on enforcing a ban on open pit mining in the province, which Malacañang is trying to block through veiled threats to the local government.

The province is site of a $5.9-billion copper-gold project said to be one of the biggest in the world.

Gov. Arthur Pingoy said in a phone interview that he had signed the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) of an ordinance that bans open pit mining, a method which requires the blasting of entire hills to open access to mineral deposits.

The IRR would be published in a national newspaper after which the provincial government would enforce the ban.

“The environment code is not just about the open pit mining ban. It also deals with quarrying and other activities which may affect our environment,” the governor said.

He did acknowledge that the provision banning open pit mining could have an adverse effect on mining investments in South Cotabato.

Tampakan mine

One such project is Tampakan copper-gold mine, which could potentially contribute 1 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and boost economic growth.

The open pit ban could also disrupt various small-scale mining operations, as well as coal mining, where conglomerate San Miguel Corp. has ventured into.

“The reality is that while this ordinance was passed by the previous Sangguniang Panlalawigan and signed by the former governor, it is this administration which has to implement it,” said Pingoy. “It has to be implemented.”

President Aquino came under fire from an environmental group in Mindanao for opposing a plan by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines to adopt a common stand against open pit mining.

Sr. Stella Matutina, OSB, convenor of Panalipdan Mindanao, a coalition of environmental groups, said Mr. Aquino seemed to have forgotten his promise of good government to the Filipino people when he assumed office.

“It seems that Mr. Aquino, who promised to listen to his boss—the people—is now turning his back on us,” said the nun in an e-mail statement.

“Rather than supporting the people and local officials, Mr. Aquino thumbed this down and is rather promoting regulation over protection,” Matutina said. With a report from Orlando B. Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao