The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry raised concern over the degradation of natural resources brought about by unchecked and unmonitored practices of small scale miners.
PCCI president George Barcelon said small miners continuously practiced irresponsible mining to the detriment of the industry and other miners.
“Clearly the companies, the bigger ones, have adhered to the ECC [environmental compliance certificate] in all the requirements of responsible mining, given the fact that our laws are too strict. The legitimate miners tend to be a bit careful because of their big investment, but on the flip side is the small miners that don’t follow the rule and they’re the ones who create a lot of issue on pollution,” he said over the weekend.
PCCI called the attention of the government to small scale mining violations in the past.
Barcelon said his group would continue to remind and ask the government to “realistically look at the current system if it is beneficial and if it has the proper balance.”
The mining industry, he said, is a heavily taxed industry. The bigger companies with bigger investments are paying the correct taxes, but the smaller miners were evading tax payments as they were unregulated.
PCCI called on small scale miners to comply with the rules under the Mining Act and cooperate with the government and fellow miners in restoration efforts of mined areas.
Barcelon said modern mining techniques would help miners comply with mining regulations, and with new technologies, the government could monitor mining activities 24/7.
“In one of my casual talks with Environment Secretary Toni Loyzaga, she mentioned using drones to monitor mining companies, particularly small miners even during the night,” he said.
He said the PCCI is supportive of the government’s efforts for deeper cooperation with trade partners on critical minerals processing.
The Philippines sought the creation of a critical minerals agreement with the US, similar to the one the latter signed with Japan.
The Department of Trade and Industry said a CMA would help strengthen and diversify critical minerals supply chains and promote the adoption of electric vehicle battery technologies.
Mining green metals for the manufacture of electric batteries is a preferred value-adding activity of the manufacturing sector.