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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Villafuerte on-board with DENR's plan to legalize small mining sites

Villafuerte on-board with DENR's plan to legalize small mining sites

Published Nov 10, 2022 04:48 pm

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. Luis “LRay” Villafuerte has thrown his support behind the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) plan to legalize more Minahang Bayan (MB) areas.

Photo from Mines and Geosciences Bureau

The MBs are zones wherein small-scale mining (SSM) operations are legal, confined, and regulated. Villafuerte backed the DENR proposal as it may be a more effective way to monitor local SSM operations.

“I am standing four-square behind the reported DENR plan to open up more Minahang Bayan areas for small-scale miners, considering that this is a better way for the government to monitor small-scale mining, do away with small-sized illegal mines and protect the environment while boosting domestic mining,” Villafuerte said on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

DENR Undersecretary Jonathan Leones spoke about the SSM initiative on Nov. 9.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/09/denr-identifies-9m-hectares-of-potential-mining-areas/

Previously, Villafuerte pointed out that not many MB areas, about 50 according to DENR Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, had been declared since the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 7076 or the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act in 1991.

“Because 31 years since the law was enacted, it's very sad to hear that there are actually only 50 . And I'm sure you know that there are probably hundreds of illegal small-scale mining waiting to be accredited. And as Secretary, it's a law and, as you mentioned, you support it as long as it's within the mandate of the law,” he told Yulo-Loyzaga during her confirmation before the Commission on Appointments (CA).

He also suggested that the DENR study modern mining technologies which allow the processing of gold without the use of mercury, a toxic chemical, in order to reduce the pollutants proliferated by SSMs.

“There are already so many technologies, mercury-free processing of gold. So, I suggest that the department can research on this and be updated, because every day there are new technologies and processes that are being implemented. As you mentioned, is really dangerous,” he continued.

The DENR secretary said that the agency would work with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to coordinate with the local government units who might benefit from the revenue generated by SSMs.

Yulo-Loyzaga also mentioned the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as a partner in addressing gender and development (GAD) issues related to SSM operations, specifically, those faced by female miners and child labor problems.

Related Tags

regulate Minahang Bayan Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Mining 111022 Small-Scale Mining legalize lray villafuerte
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