Mining group seeks ‘real’ dialog on issues

Aquino: Philippines to have clear mining policy

 

Evidently, an inclusive policy consensus on mining - at local and national levels - is still elusive, as shown in this plea from the mining sector and this statement from the Ph President.

"Mining investments in the Philippines for the period 2011 to 2016 could reach $20 billion, of which some $12.6 billion will flow into Mindanao, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) said in a statement Thursday.

"At the same time, COMP called on various sectors to allow legitimate mining industry members to participate in mining fora in order to have a “real” multi-stakeholder dialog and address issues concerning the industry. COMP said that Mindanao has the biggest resources and reserves inventory in the country of copper at five billion tons, gold at 3.4 billion tons, aluminum at 292 million tons and iron at 411 million tons....

"COMP earlier said that despite repeated requests from the industry, representatives of legitimate mining industry operators were excluded from the ongoing 2012 International Conference on Mining in Mindanao hosted by the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) and the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines. The Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) organized a similar mining conference in November 2011 wherein COMP members were also not invited to take part, COMP said."

...

"President Benigno Aquino III said the Philippine government will have a clear-cut mining policy by next month amid foreigners’ complaints that inconsistent rules have stymied investments. The Philippines is the world’s fifth most mineralized country and its large reserves include gold and copper. But mining accounted for only about one percent of GDP last year, with total production at $1.5 billion. Aquino said a report he commissioned on what mining policies were needed was due in mid-February. He spoke Thursday before foreign chambers of commerce."