MANILA — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has acted on the appeals of 13 mining companies that were ordered either closed or suspended last year.
The DENR affirmed the closure of three of the mining firms, suspension of nine others, and lifting the suspension of one firm.
“Cancellation of mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs) of Claver Mineral Development Corporation and Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation was affirmed and denial of the MPSA application of Ore Asia Mining and Development Corporation was also affirmed,” DENR said in a briefer released Friday (Nov. 16).
According to the DENR, the three firms must immediately and completely pay all fines and penalties for violations they committed.
“No transport of ore shall be allowed until full rehabilitation is undertaken by these mining companies,” the department said.
The briefer further showed nine companies previously ordered closed by the DENR “were resolved to be suspended”.
These were Zambales Diversified Metals Corporation, Krominco Inc., Mt. Sinai Exploration and Development Corporation, Libjo Mining Corporation, Wellex Mining Corporation 1 and Wellex Mining Corporation 2, Carrascal Nickel Corporation, AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration and Development Corporation, Strong Built Mining Development Corporation, and Emir Mineral Resources Corporation.
“On top of payment of fines and penalties, these companies were directed to undertake corrective measures within a timetable,” the DENR said.
The DENR warned that the companies’ failure to implement such measures would result in the reinstatement of their cancellation orders.
Meanwhile, the agency lifted its suspension order for Berong Nickel Corporation, “subject to implementation of corrective measures”.
DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu issued this week the resolutions covering the motions for reconsideration of the 13 companies.
Such resolutions can be appealed before the Office of the President.
“The decisions made were a product of well-studied review,” the DENR, however, assured, saying these were largely based on the report of the technical review teams commissioned by the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC).
The teams were tasked to conduct a multi-stakeholder review to advise the DENR on the performance of existing mining operations.
Cimatu said the review used third-party audit to help gather data for justifying the decisions on the firms’ appeals.
The audit looked into legal, technical, environmental, social, and economic aspects of mining operations concerned.
The DENR said the 13 companies were among the 26 mining firms it ordered closed or suspended last year.
But while these firms filed their appeals with the DENR, the other 13 filed their respective appeals before the Office of the President.