MINING POLICY | Green group urges Marcos to reverse Duterte’s mining policy, seeks dialogue

July 21, 2022 , 07:13 PM

By Clarist Zablan

(July 21, 2022) – A green group on Thursday urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr to revoke his predecessor’s mining policies that relaxed restrictions and convene a dialogue with stakeholders on the issue, stressing a need to prioritize environmental concerns.

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) shared 11 recommendations on environmental concerns which they said Marcos should prioritize in his first 100 days in office, including proposals to reverse former President Rodrigo Duterte’s mining policies such as the opening of applications for new mining permits and resumption of open-pit mining operations.

“We demand that the new administration act on these recommendations in order to ensure environmental sustainability and climate change responsiveness for the current and future generations,” ATM said in a statement.

One of the group’s recommendations to Marcos is to also convene a dialogue that involves the environment department’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the mining industry, and communities affected by mining communities to discuss current mining issues.

The group also recommended convening an environmental summit to craft the government’s environmental program, instruct lawmakers to prioritize the legislation of environmental bills, and launch a review on the categorization of mining as an “essential industry.”

Marcos must also revoke the country’s withdrawal from the Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative, support local governments on their stances on mining operations in their localities, implement a transparent mining audit, put all mining contracts and permits approved during the pandemic under review, and protect environmental defenders, they said.

Duterte had lifted a nine-year moratorium on new mining agreements in April 2021, then reversed a four-year ban on open-pit metal mining a few months after, citing a need to revitalize the local mining industry and bring economic growth.

The development was heavily criticized by environmental groups, amid concerns on the impacts of mining operations in the environment.

ATM also noted that Marcos has shown a “lack of clear environmental and climate programs” that he would implement under his administration.

“Having the environment and climate portfolios as a blind or weak spot in the new administration is unacceptable,” the group said.

In his inaugural speech, Marcos promised to work with “partners and friends” to help the country grapple with the climate crisis, while bemoaning unspecified infrastructure projects that have destroyed the environment.

However, Panatang Luntian, a coalition of environmental organizations, found Marcos Jr. as the “dirtiest” presidential candidate in the May 2022 polls, citing his defense of projects under his late father and dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. that adversely affected the environment.

Power for People Coalition (P4P), a group of green energy advocates, has also urged Marcos to prove his commitment in supporting renewable power by announcing a comprehensive plan on energy transition.

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