SEVERAL large mining companies belonging to the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (CMP) have appealed to the provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte to reconsider the ban it imposed on open-pit mining.

In a statement, the CMP also called on the national government to “harmonize” conflicting national and local laws that only serve as “irritating” obstacles to the Aquino administration’s developmental agenda.

“The ordinance with all its onerous terms—including sweeping new provincial regulatory powers over large mining operations that clearly usurp the authority of the national government—is grossly unconstitutional,” said CMP.

“[The ordinance] sends a conflicting signal to all potential investors of the country and is an urgent issue that must be addressed by both the national and local government,” the group said.

The CMP joined the TVI Resources Development (Philippines) Inc. (TVIRD) and Philex Gold Philippines Inc. in urging the provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte to reconsider its decision to ban open-pit mining.

“The Zamboanga del Norte ordinance will have a destabilizing effect on the province as the new law will adversely affect the livelihood of hundreds of employees and their families as well as thousands of residents in host and impact communities of TVIRD and Philex that benefit from responsible mining operations of these companies,” said the CMP.

Also, the CMP said the ordinance is biased toward small-scale mining for allegedly not following proper health and safety standards.

“They do not employ methods of mineral extraction that mitigate the impact of their operations on the environment; small-scale mining operations are not subjected to the stringent environmental regulations required in large-scale mining,” said the CMP. 

The provincial government of Zamboanga del Norte cited the ill effects of open-pit mining on the environment as one of the reasons behind its decision in imposing the ban.

The CMP, however, pointed out that its members such as TVIRD and Philex have “excellent track records” in protecting the environment and advancing the development of communities where they operate.

The province of Zamboanga del Norte joined the South Cotabato provincial government in banning open-pit mining in their locales.

The ban imposed by the South Cotabato provincial government is being cited as the single biggest stumbling block to the operations of Sagittarius Mines Inc. in Tampakan.