Pia: Senate panel to revisit mining law, 'dig' into reported violations

The Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources on Monday (Nov.26) will hold its initial hearing on various proposals seeking to either amend or repeal the controversial Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (R.A. No. 7942).

The committee, chaired by Senator Pia S. Cayetano, will also look into alleged violations of environmental safeguards by small-scale miners and encroachment of ancestral lands by mining firms without securing the consent of indigenous peoples in the area.

Among the measures to be taken up by the panel are Senate Bill Nos. (SBN) 767 and 1531, authored by Senators Cayetano and Loren Legarda, respectively, which seek to amend certain provisions of the Mining Act.

SBN 767 mandates an independent health and environmental impact assessment of communities in the vicinity of mining sites. The mining firm will also be required to shoulder the medical treatment of residents for any illnesses attributable to the mining activity.

SBN 1531, on the other hand, seeks to exempt from mining applications areas declared as "no mining zones" by local government units (LGUs).

Recently it was reported that Mayor Edward Hagedorn had declared a moratorium on large-scale mining in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan while several LGUs, like Roxas City in Capiz, have pending resolutions calling for a local mining ban.

Cayetano said the two measures essentially seek to strengthen the decision-making of local governments with respect to mining and make mining firms more directly accountable to the community where they operate.

Monday's agenda includes a third bill, SBN 187 of Sen. Jamby Madrigal which aims to repeal the Mining Act, and several resolutions calling for an inquiry on reported violations of mining firms, including in Sibuyan Island in Romblon and in Tubay, Agusan del Norte.

Cayetano herself has filed Resolution No.209 looking into the reported malpractices of some small-scale mining companies, particularly the use of heavy equipment allowed only for large-scale mining operations and exceeding mineral production limits contrary to the People's Small Scale Mining Act of 1991 (RA 7076).

Representatives from the DENR, LGUs, environmental groups and the academe have been invited to attend the hearing.