Bicol declaration on responsible mining formulated at the Ist Bicol Mining Conference

LEGAZPI CITY-The participants, some 200 strong, in unison proclaimed and committed recently to uphold the principles of Responsible Mining highlighting the First Bicol Mining Conference held on April 14, 2011 at the La Piazza Convention Hall this City.

The declaration came amidst a lot of challenges facing the Philippine mining industry.

These challenges, according to the participants, in a written declaration includes: some local government units are seeking more autonomy to regulate all mining activities in their own jurisdiction while others are keen on banning all mining activities except quarrying and small-scale mining; communities where mining operations exist are seeking more social services that would otherwise be the function of the government; indigenous peoples want to have direct hand in the management of the mineral resources within their ancestral claims even without appropriate technologies; the religious sector do not want mining because it causes moral degeneration of the communities; the militants want stoppage of mining because of foreign investments; and environmental groups do not want mineral development because mining is anti-development.        

The participants said NO to these odds. According to them they will not allow these odds to defeat the Philippine mining industry. Thus, they, through the written declaration, proclaimed and committed themselves to uphold the principles of Responsible Mining by: 1) dutifully complying with all mining rules and regulations; mitigating, if not preventing, the adverse impacts of the mining operations on the environment; by being a conscientious partner in the development of the host communities; contributing to the local and national economy; and communicating the positive impacts of minerals development to all stakeholders.

In the same declaration, they added to remain compliant, competent and conscientious by operating responsibly.

Notable participants include Arsenio K. Sebial, Jr., PSEM (Philippine Society of Mining Engineers) National President; Artemio F. Disini, Chairman and Director of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines; Marcelo A. Bolaño of Benguet Corporation and key officers of large scale operating mines in the country like the Masbate Gold Project, Goodfound Cement Corporation, Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project, Lepanto, Philex, Sagittarius and TVI, among others. Other participants came from as far as Baguio and Mindanao.

The conference, with the theme “Towards Responsible Mining: Against All Odds”   was organized by the Philippine Society of Mining Engineers – Bicol Chapter with full support and cooperation of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-V. Press Release August 19, 2011