Palace: PNoy signs EO on mining; DENR chief to explain provisions

President Benigno Aquino III’s long-awaited executive order outlining his administration’s policies on mining has been signed and will finally be released this week–as early as Monday, Malacañang said Saturday.

 

“In all likelihood (it will be made public) Monday afternoon, you can expect a briefing Monday afternoon ... We will release the EO at the same time we will be briefing through Sec. Paje the details of the EO,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on government-run dzRB radio.

 

He said the decision was made to have Paje’s briefing coincide with the release of the EO to address questions and concerns about the order.  

 

“The decision is so walang agam-agam sa EO na ito dahil maraming nag-aabang at inaabangan ng business and mining industry at environmentalist, ipapaliwanag ni Sec. Paje ang EO on mining (The decision is that to allay fears about the EO by businesses and environmentalists, Paje will explain its provisions),” Lacierda said.  

A report on BusinessWorld quoted Paje as indicating the EO may be released on Monday. It said Paje declined to say what changes had been made to the draft submitted last June. The signing of the EO is much awaited as it was supposedly crafted to harmonize the conflicting interests of the mining industry, local and national governments, and  environment advocates. While industry players have been seeking guidance on "dos and don'ts" in mining the government would lay down in the EO, environment advocates are curious about what environmental standards and workers' safety measures it contains.  

Catholic bishops prefer alternative bill

 

Meanwhile, Catholic bishops said they prefer the Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB) now pending in Congress.

 

The decision was made during a national forum on mining attended by about 50 bishops and some lawmakers at the Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila last Thursday.

 

The forum was organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace (CBCP-NASSA).

 

“We cannot deny how mining has negatively affected the situation of the poor in our country; the farmers, fisher folks, indigenous people; everyday we are confronted with the reality that it has to be changed,” said NASSA chairman and Manila auxiliary bishop Broderick Pabillo.

 

“While we are still not sure about the status of the executive order on mining, that policy will only provide short-term resolution to our situation. What we need is a rationalized policy that will have sustainable and positive impact to generations ahead,” he added. — ELR, GMA News