One of the first things that Vice President Leni Robredo will do is she wins in May 2022 is to issue an executive order declaring 'no mining' areas, effectively scrapping President Duterte’s 2021 order to lift the moratorium on mineral agreements.
While she is “not for an absolute ban on mining,” Robredo believes that she must first prioritize the passing of the National Land Use Act and the Alternative Mineral Bill before reconsidering allowing new mining sites to open.
“I’m for a more responsible mining. Iyong EO na pinasa ni Presidente (passed by the President) if I will be given the privilege of serving this country, iyon ‘yung isa sa mga aalisin ko (that’s one of the things I will remove),” Robredo, a presidential aspirant, told Women Lawyers for Leni on Sunday, Jan. 23.
The Vice President stressed that it is “not yet time” to pass Executive Order 130 to spur economic growth and support the programs and programs for development.
Under EO 130, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is tasked to formulate terms and conditions that will maximize government revenues in new and existing mining contracts. The EO also said the department must implement environmental policies.
Robredo noted that the late Environment secretary Gina Lopez, a known environmental advocate who Duterte appointed in the early years of his presidency, already streamlined policies to pave way for “more responsible mining policies.”
In line with these policies, she plans to “certify as urgent” the passage of the National Land Use Act, which will classify land use according to protection (conservation), production (agriculture and fisheries), settlements development (residential), and infrastructure development (transportation and communication).
Robredo said the National Land Use Act will “put in perspective which parts of the country should be declared as no-mining zones.”
She also highlighted the need for the Alternative Minerals Bill, which she said will identify “areas suitable for mining.”
These laws will ensure that the local communities will benefit from the mining sites and that “no mining activities or any such projects to be conducted without proper consultation.”
“Wala magre-resume na mining operations pag hindi pa naayos ‘yung ano iyong (No mining operations will resume until there is no clear rules on the) no-mining zones. Number two, hindi pa natin naaayos yung mga batas (we haven’t fixed the laws) in place para siguraduhin na (to make sure that) it is the local community or local economy which will benefit,” she explained.
Robredo added that she wants to put up mechanisms to ensure that indigenous communities and local communities that will be affected by the mining sites will have their voices heard.
She lamented that big mining companies are abusing the rights of the local communities, even displacing them and damaging the indigenous peoples (IPs).
Noting that she wants a more systematic approach, she highlighted the need for “necessary legislation” and leadership and the need to change the system.
“Iyong pinakaproblema kasi natin (Our biggest problem is) leadership. Hindi transparent, hindi accountable. Walang (Not transparent, not accountable. There is no) mechanism for empowering stakeholders to be part of the process,” Robredo said.
“With the right legislation, leadership, more transparent and accountable mechanism, mechanism for empowering the stakeholders maiiwasan iyong nangyayari ngayon (these will prevent what is happening right now),” she added.