Agusan del Norte Gov. Angel Amante-Matba said Thursday she will personally assist President Rodrigo Duterte in weeding out irresponsible miners in the province.
Amante-Matba issued the statement in reaction to Duterte’s recent pronouncement that mining companies must comply with international environmental standards or face the risk of sanctions.
“For a province tagged as one of the country’s mining hotspots, our people and land will benefit from the strict measures to be implemented by the incoming president,” she said.
Amante-Matba assured the government that mining operations in her province were operated and managed by responsible miners. She urged the new administration to assist her in setting up a more stringent regulatory mechanism to pursue best practices among mining companies operating in her province.
The governor also called on companies, inlcuding or small mining operators, to heed Duterte’s warning to shape up or face severe sanctions or closure.
She expressed her gratitude on the Duterte’s declaration that there would be no ban on mining as long as it followed international environmental protection standards.
“Banning mining operations will certainly create a huge economic setback to a lot of people not only in Agusan province but the whole of Caraga region,” she said.
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, meanwhile, said the mining industry would infuse about $20 billion to $30 billion into the economy over the next five to 10 years with he inclusion of several new projects.
CoMP said investments this year were expected to reach $2.25 billion on new projects. Expected to be operational this year are those of Asiaticus Mining Corp. in Davao Oriental and Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. in Palawan.
CoMP said mining investments next year would reach $6 billion due to the start of operations of Philex Mining Corp.’s Silangan project in Surigao del Norte, Nadecor’s Kingking project in Davao del Norte and the Balabag Gold-Silver project of TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc.
Projects that are expected to operate in 2018 are the Tampakan mine development of Sagitarius Mines in South Cotobato, Intex Resources in Mindoro, the Masbate gold project of Philsaga Mining Corp., nickel mine of San Miguel Corp. through Philnico in Surigao del Sur and the Balatoc mines of Benguet Corp. Investments from these companies are expected to reach $14.75 billion.
CoMP said the sole project expected in 2019 is that of Far South East Gold of Lepanto Mining Corp. in Benguet, which is expected to cost about $2 billion.
“Members of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines vow to work for the national interest by fulfilling our obligations as prescribed by the law; by promoting the development of rural and indigenous communities and by complementing the delivery of government’s social services in education, health, livelihood and infrastructure,” CoMP said. With Anna Leah E. Gonzales