The result of the mining audit divides the issue as to whether the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) should prioritize the economic advantages of the mining industry or address the environmental woes that arise from its operations.
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| (photo courtesy of Erik de Castro, Reuters. February 9, 2017) |
As of February, the DENR has closed 23 mining operations and has suspended 5 mining firms. 75 mining contracts were also terminated. Only 12 mining companies passed the audit that started back in June 2016.
The most common violations that were grounds for suspension were lack of proper siltation facilities, dust, tree-cutting permits, unsystematic mining methods, and inadequate social development efforts, according to DENR Undersecretary Leo Jasareno.
However, ISO-certified firms were affected by the result of the mining audit.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 is a certification for Environmental Management System (EMS). It is a recognized evaluation system that sets the standards for responsible mining.
If mining firms have a certificate, it means they have passed international standards and have handled environmental issues effectively.
Out of the 28 closed and suspended mining firms, seven of them has an ISO certification while four firms have yet to secure one.
(This was published by the LPU Independent Sentinel on April 6)
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