New Executive Order on mining to bring
consistency in the implementation of mining law
The government is leaving it up to the local
government units (LGUs) to decide for themselves whether or not to declare
their respective areas of jurisdiction as mining free in line with President
Benigno S. Aquino III’s directive laid down in Executive Order Number 79
designed to harmonize mining policies and regulations in the country.
In a press briefing aired over government-run
radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Abigail Valte said the LGUs are allowed to accept mining applications from
firms but should they, as a whole, decide not to allow mining in their areas,
then it should be followed.
She added that the President issued EO 79 in
order to bring consistency in the implementation of the new mining law between
the
national and local government.
“…‘pag tiningnan po natin ang EO 79…ang gusto lang
naman po ng Pangulo ay magkaroon ng consistency between the national and the
local government and in the framework of the EO, that is very possible,” Valte
said.
Executive Order No. 79 identifies zones closed
to mining applications – either for contracts, concessions or agreements
including areas in the National Tourism Development Plan, critical areas and
island eco-systems, prime agricultural lands covered by RA 6657, strategic
agriculture and fisheries development zones and fish refuge and sanctuaries
declared as such by the Department of Agriculture. Mining is not allowed in
areas already identified under the existing laws on mining, agrarian and
protected areas, as well as in sites that may be determined by the Department
of Environment and natural Resources. (rck)
