Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez said the Philippine economy would flourish even without mining, allaying fears that the closure of 23 operating mines would cause job losses that could affect 1.2 million people and billions of tax losses to both the national and local governments.
Sought for reaction to news stories saying the closure order would affect millions of jobs, Lopez said reports that 1.2 million people would be affected by the closure order are incredible.
A staunch environmental advocate, Lopez said in 2014 the mining industry employs only around 235,000 people.
There are 41 operating mines in the country, she added. “So where are they getting this number
[1.2 million]?”
Meanwhile, the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) issued a statement
affirming its commitment for responsible mining.
However, PMSEA, through its President Louie R. Sarmiento, said it appears that full details of the results of the mining audit has yet to be furnished to the concerned companies.
“The closures and suspen-sions, if affirmed, will have far-reaching effect, especially in mining communities that play host to these mines—employees and their dependents, contractors and mine-dependent small businesses will be the biggest losers,” Sarmiento said.
“In the spirit of transparency and due process, the PMSEA exhorted the DENR to release the results of the mining audit to clear any doubts and air of suspicions. As always, as a partner organization, the PMSEA is offering its expertise to the DENR,” Sarmiento said.
Lopez, however, is not keen on releasing the findings and recommendations of the 15 audit teams, saying she has no obligation to do so, unless President Duterte asks her to do it.
Lopez said the mine audit was meticulously done.
She said the closure of the listed mines would be for the greater good, as it will prevent destruction caused by mining and protect the community’s environment and natural resources.
Lopez was reacting to statements issued by the Chambers of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) about the potential adverse impact of the closure order to jobs and livelihood once this is enforced.
COMP Chairman Artemio Disini said 1.2 million people, which include employees and their families, would be affected by the closure order.
Representing mining industry’s big players, COMP will appeal their case to Duterte as they called on the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) to convene and tackle the closure order.
On Friday Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said an emergency employment program is needed to absorb workers who will lose their jobs.
He also expressed concern over the impact of the closure order to local government units that heavily rely on taxes from mining.
Lopez told the BusinessMirror that, if done properly, area development would allow the local economy to flourish even without mining.
She said ecotourism, for example, has the potential to generate more jobs and more livelihood for the people than mining.
“Mining is not labor intensive. It is capital intensive. In 2014 there was a government report that mining has created 235,000 jobs all over the country, while tourism has generated 4.7 million,” she added.
She said the benefits of mining is not enough to allow the majority of the people in the community to suffer while mining companies rake in huge profits from the exploitation of the community’s natural resources.
Lopez said that within 18 months, area development will allow communities to earn from ecotourism and social enterprises through agro-forestry and massive tree-planting activities.
1 comment
paano nmn kaming mga nag iinvest sa PSE…bakit nio naman nagmistake kayu dun sa pangalan nung isang mining na PLATINUM DEVT CO…
because of your wrong, malicious and inaccurate statements on the names, napaniwala nio ako na ang FNI ay okay sya at wala syang syang subsidiary dun sa mga binanggit mo at inilathala nio….pero nung Friday ay binago mo at pinalitan ng PLATINUM GROUP METAL MINING CO..ngayon lumalabas na kasali ang subsidiary ni FNI…
base sa mistakes mo, maari ko bang ipashoulder sau ung aking possible losses that I might incur pag bumagsak ang FNI shares sa monday? dahil sa pagkakamali mo, maybe I made a wrong decisions to invest on a company..
6years end of service, 3months salary plus kinita ko sa pagbebenta ng daing na pusit at pagpapasada ng pilipino dto ssa saudi ang inilagak ko dian nung Feb 2….tapos lolokohin mo lang ako?
anong hustisya makukuha ko sa ginawa mong panloloko