DENR shuts down 21 mines in wake of an environmental audit

At least 21 mining companies have been ordered closed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as a result of its industry-wide environmental audit.

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said the mines are operating in areas where watersheds are located.

"I ordered them closed because I am making a statement that you cannot have mining operations in a functional watershed," Lopez said during a press conference on Thursday.

The 21 mining companies include:

• Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines Inc.

• Eramen Minerals Inc.

• Zambales Diversified Metals Corp.

• LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc.

• Mt. Sinai Mining Exploration and Development Corp.

• Emir Minerals Corp.

• Techiron Minerals Resources Inc.

• AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration

• Kromico Inc.

• SinoSteel Philippines H.Y. Mining Corp.

• Oriental Synergy Mining Corp.

• Welled Mining Corp.

• Libjo Mining Corp.

• Oriental Vision Mining Philippines Corp.

• ADNAMA Mining Resources Corp.

• Claver Mineral Development Corp.

• Platinum Development Corp.

• CTP Construction and Mining Corp.

• Carrascal Nickel Corp.

• Marcventures Mining and Development Corp.

• Hinatuan Mining Corp.

"We will not allow water to be at risk for business interest," Lopez said.

Initial results of the audit released in September 2016 showed at least 30 mining operations failed the evaluation, 20 got recommendations for suspension and 10 were actually suspended.

"We gave show cause orders to the 30 and then they replied. We investigated, so now we have the results," Lopez said.

Apart from operating in watershed areas, Lopez noted some of the miners, especially in Surigao del Norte, were causing siltation in coastal waters and endangering marine biodiversity.

"We gave the closure orders two days ago," Lopez said.

The order will be final and executory in 15 days if the companies fail to appeal their case to the DENR.

Companies that were ordered closed may go on operating while the decision on their respective motions for reconsideration are being processed (MR), Environment Senior Undersecretary Leo Jasareno said on the sidelines of the press conference.

"If the DENR secretary makes a final decision on their MRs, if they're not satisfied, then they can appeal to the Office of the President, also within 15 days. Those are the rules of proceeding," Jalapeño said.

Lopez also announced that other six mining firms were suspended:

• Berong Nickel Corp. and Citinickel Mines and Development Corp., both operating in Palawan, were suspended because of siltation in the river, coastal waters and farm lands.

• OceanaGold Philippines Inc. was suspended because its operations in Nueva Vizcaya were having an adverse impact on agriculture land.

• Ore Asia Mining Corp. was found to have violated environment laws as its mine tailings were causing siltation in a river in Bulacan.

• Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corp. in Benguet was suspended because mine tailing leaks in a river. The audit also found that Lepanto simply abandoned an old tailings pond.

• Strong Built Mining Development Corp. in Leyte was found to have been operating outside the area of its environmental compliance certificate and not complying with safety rules.

In coming up with the final decision, Lopez said she inspected the mining sites and talked to locals. During the press conference on Thursday, the Cabinet official played a video featuring interviews and testimonials of people in affected areas.

"I'm not against mining, but I'm against suffering. It is not right that a few make a lot of money to the detriment of other people," she said.

"I am for social justice, in the sense that the people enjoy the resources of that particular area," she added.

12 miners pass audit

According to the DENR, 12 mining companies passed the audit:

• Philex Mining Corp.

• Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp.

• Carmen Copper Corp.

• Cagdianao Mining Corp.

• Taganito Mining Corp.

• Greenstone Resources Corp.

• Philsaga Mining Corp.

• Apex Mining Co. Inc.

• Pacific Nickel Philippines Inc.

• Agata Mining Ventures Inc.

• Century Peak Metals Holdings Corp.

• SR Metals Inc.

SR Metals was earlier recommended for suspension. Lopez, however, said further investigation showed the mining operations was actually not causing any siltation.

"One mine we are also allowing is Century Peak, because they are going to end in May," Lopez noted, referring to the company's mining permit.

An earlier decision to suspended Filminera Resources Corp. was deferred.

"One deferred because I wanna go there ... because I want to make the right decision," Lopez said. — GMA News