Chapter 2: Action Agenda

  MINERALS AND MINES

ISSUES /
CONCERNS		 STRATEGY /
ACTION AGENDA		 TARGETS TIME
TABLE		 INSTITUTIONS
INVOLVED
1.  Environment Disturbance Due to Mining Operations Enhance the capacity to manage environment disturbance caused by mining activities
1.1  Review RA 7942 (or Mining Act of 1995) RA 7942 reviewed; gaps and contentious issues identified 1996 DENR, Senate, NGOs/POs
1.2  Fully implement environmental provisions of RA 7942 IRR revised to strengthen environmental requirements  1996 DENR (MGB, EMB), LGUs, mining firms, mining communities, NGOs/POs
1.3  Intensify the "Adopt a Tree, Adopt a Mining Forest" with adequate funding for monitoring Participation of mining firms in the movement mandated/required 1997 DENR (MGB, EMB, FMB), LGUs, NGOs
1.4  Require companies to formulate abandonment plans with adequate funds guarantee and undertake continuous rehabilitation of mining affected areas All firms evaluated as to compliance and substantial increase in penalty for erring firms imposed 1997 DENR (MGB, EMB, FMB), NIA, BSWM, BFAR, LGUs, NGOs, mining communities, mining firms
1.5  Establish Mine Rehabilitation Fund of the Mining Act Mine Rehabilitation Fund established from percentage of the earnings of the mining firms 1997 DENR, LGUs, mining industry
1.6  Deputize mining companies to protect forest in mining areas by entering into MOAs/MOUs MOAs/MOUs forged between major mining companies and DENR 1997 - 1998 DENR, mining firms, NGOs/POs
1.7  Enforce "Mine Waste and Tailings Fee" and revise provisions and compensation to include damages on infrastructure, i.e. irrigation, bridges, etc. Legislative or administrative policy instruments enacted 1997 DENR (MGB, EMB, LMB, FMB), BPI, NIA, BFAR, LGUs, mining firms, Congress
1.8  Ensure close and regular coordination among DENR Regional Offices, LGUs and other stakeholders on granting of ECCs for sand, gravel and other non-metallic minerals Coordination guidelines developed and approved by all parties involved 1997 DENR, LGUs, NGOs/POs
1.9  Institutionalize social acceptability as a prerequisite to all mining projects starting from exploration Criteria and guidelines for social acceptability developed and enunciated through an appropriate administrative order 1997 DENR, DILG, ONCC, OSCC, NGOs/POs, Social Science centers and institutes
1.10  Include risk assessment in EIAs of mining projects Administrative order adding risk assessment in EIA issued 1997 DENR
1.11  Require EIA consultants of mining projects to accept accountability for impact prediction, risk assessment and effectivity of mitigative measures Administrative order providing for the inclusion of accountability statements in EIA procedures and requirements issued 1996 DENR
1.12  Require the submission of comprehensive plan developed with local stakeholders that builds eventual self-reliance of the host Requirement for a comprehensive plan included in the EIA process 1996 DENR, LGUs
1.13  Declare a moratorium on mining operations and the granting of permits in environmentally-critical areas DENR
2.  Inadequate institutional capability to implement provisions of the Mining Act 2.1  Streamline the procedures in permitting systems Public info materials, public assistance units and simplified guidelines disseminated 1997 DENR, LGUs
2.2  Build capacity for ECC/EPEP compliance Staff trained and appropriate equipment provided for comprehensive monitoring 1996 DENR, mining firms, NDCC, LGUs, academe
2.3  Institutionalize involvement of the community and expert representatives in environmental monitoring Communities and experts trained 1996 DENR, LGUs, NGOs/POs, communities, academe
2.4  Strengthen the Mines and Geosciences Bureau  1997 DENR (EMB, MBG), LGUs, DTI
Coordinate with concerned agencies to operationalize One-Stop-Shops for mining projects at the national and regional offices Multi-agency MOAs at the national level and all regions forged 1997 DENR, academe
Conduct trainings on Environmental Audit and Environmental Monitoring Staff at central bureau and in every Regional Office trained 1997 - 1998 DENR, LGUs, mining firms, NGOs/POs
Institutionalize Multi-Partite Monitoring Teams for mining operations  Multi-partite  monitoring teams supported by monitoring funds organized in all mining projects
3.  Lack of programs on the non-extractive side of the sector 3.1  Promote value-added manufacturing processes (vertical integration i.e. smelting) by providing incentives Technical manpower and capability developed

Manufacturing processes established

 1998 - 2010 DENR, DTI, DOF, mining firms
4.  Mine safety and risk arising from mining operations Implement measures to ensure mine safety and minimize risks arising from mining operations
4.1  Enforce strict adherence to safety practices as stipulated in the Philippine Mine Safety Rules and Regulations All mining firms evaluated; erring firms penalized 1997 DENR, mining firms, DOE, DOLE
4.2  Include comprehensive risk assessment as a requirement for ECC
4.3  Inform employees and adjacent communities about the risks and consequences of mine accidents and prepare them for emergencies; put in readiness contingency plans "APELL" (Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at the Local Level) Programs developed in all mining firms 1997 DENR, mining firms, LGUs, NGOs/POs, UNEP
4.4  Identify and control potential hazard to mine workers Guidelines established for risk classification, zoning and regulations for safety 1997 DENR, DOLE, DOH,  labor unions
4.5  Conduct strict mine safety and health monitoring and audit Guidelines prepared and enacted into appropriate policy instruments 1997 DENR, DOH, LGUs, labor unions, DOLE
5.  Lack of information to support decision making and the need to increase awareness of society on relevant mining legislation

Generate and disseminate information systematically to support decision-making and ensure public participation

 5.1  Generate geological data/information, i.e. GIS, GPS Central database generated 1997 - continuing DENR (MGB), NAMRIA
5.2  Establish and maintain databases on mineral reservations, deposits, mining rights, etc. Regional database generated 1998 - continuing MGB
5.3  Conduct intensive IEC at all levels on the Mining Act such as:
  • exposure to mining sites
  • IEC materials production
 Information modules prepared and information materials distributed to regional offices, LGUs, media organizations, NGOs/POs and host communities on existing and potential mining projects

MGB regional information services strengthened

 1997 DENR, PIA, mining firms, LGUs, media organizations, NGOs/POs, DOH
5.4  Establish the baseline health data/information of the employees and the adjacent communities (e.g. initial health examination of the workers/employees, health status of the communities, etc.) Baseline health data generated 1997 - continuing DOH, mining firms, NGOs/POs
6.  Lack of geologic information on solid waste disposal, geo-hazards and geohydrology 6.1  Identify appropriate location of solid waste management sites, geo-hazards and potential water sources Areas identified for possible solid waste dumping, geo-hazard areas and potential water sources 1996 DENR, DOST, LGUs, NWRB, NIA
6.2  Provide access to information to communities and other stakeholders on solid waste management sites, geo-hazards and potential water sources DENR, DOST, LGUs, NWRB, NIA
7.  Unintegrated Small-Scale Mining Laws 7.1  Formulate and implement and Integrated National Program on Small-Scale Mining An integrated national program for small-scale mining formulated and implemented 1998 - continuing DENR, LGUs, DTI, small-scale miners, NGOs/POs
8.  Conflicts on delineation of existing and potential ancestral lands / domain claims 8.1  Prepare / Update / Maintain the National Mining Rights Control Map Control map prepared and made accessible to users 1998 DENR-MGB, NAMRIA
9.  Lack of enabling instruments for off-shore mining projects 9.1  Formulate and implement guidelines for off-shore mining Guidelines formulated 1997 DENR-MGB, DFA, DTI

List of ACRONYMS

Back to Previous Page   Go to Main Page