Anti-mining group hits big miners for lambasting DENR audit results

The hostility shown by the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) against a government audit on the mining industry shows the "arrogance" of big mining companies, the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) said Wednesday.

"The hostile reaction of COMP to the results of the mining audit reveals the arrogance of an industry used to having their way because of their regulatory capture of DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under previous administrations," the alliance said in an emailed statement.

COMP on Tuesday decried the results of an environmental audit by the DENR and the call for suspension of eight of its members: Filminera Resources Corp., Marcventures Mining and Development Corp., Agata Mining Ventures Inc., CTP Construction and Mining Corp., Hinatuan Mining Corp., Benguet Corp., Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corp., and OceanaGold Philippines Inc.

"When you suddenly change the rules of the game, there should have been an earlier dialogue between companies and the Department of Environment and natural Resources, given that the audit report was already finished in August," COMP said.

However, ATM noted the DENR did not change anything. "They merely realized and decided to implement the mining laws and policies that were already there, most of them even part of their own mining contracts," it said.

"This reaction also flies against the COMP's own previous statements that they are willing to engage this government to implement 'responsible mining'," it added.

While most of its members are ISO (International Organization for Standardization) compliant, COMP said in July that other members were securing an ISO certification.

"We here at the Chamber commend our responsible members and commit to continue our responsible ways until all our member companies have fully complied with ISO 14001," it said.

Aside from the eight COMP members, 12 other companies were recommended to be closed by the DENR for failing to pass the environmental audit. 

The list of 20 miners is on top of the 10 mining operations the earlier suspended by the DENR. 

The companies were given a week to explain to the government why their mining operations should not be shutdown.

According to ATM, the audit results show that the country is "very far" from achieving the goal of responsible mining in the country and that "... COMP's immature reaction will continue to make 'responsible mining' a myth."

COMP officials were not immediately available for comment. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS GMA News