Mining & Quarry Review Phase III (DENR) – Development Academy of the Phils.

Pursuant to Section 3 of Executive Order (EO) No. 79, the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) issued Resolution No. 6 on February 9, 2017, directing the conduct of a multi-stakeholder review on the performance of existing mining operations. The review aims to identify the needed interventions that would effectively address existing mining issues and concerns and recommend measures that will further improve the management and regulations in the mining sector. Two reviews have since been conducted covering 26 mining companies that were issued closure and suspension orders by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the remaining 18 operating large-scale mining operations. The reviews aimed to assess the technical, legal, social, environmental, and economic aspects of the mining operations. The review was undertaken by Technical Review Teams (TRTs) and an Overall Team Leader commissioned by the MICC. In November 2020, the MICC directed the conduct of the third phase of the review covering the large-scale mining operations in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and 22 quarry operations (Annex A). The review is intended to be an objective, fact-finding and science-based process to (a) identify gaps, issues, and concerns that limits the mining sector to contribute effectively on national and regional development, and (b) recommend needed interventions and policy measures to ensure a more responsible mining sector that will contribute to sustainable development. Specifically, it aims to (a) assess the performance of existing mining and quarry operations in five aspects namely, technical, legal, environment, social, and economic, and (b) identify necessary interventions to maximize the economic contribution of the industry further while minimizing its environmental and social externalities. The third phase of the review is expected to commence on the fourth quarter of 2021.