Creation of a research body on mining pushed

A lawmaker is urging Congress to approve a bill creating a research body to make mining activities in the country become more responsible and ultimately more acceptable to the people.

Rep. Erlpe John “Ping” M. Amante (2nd District, Agusan del Norte) said House Bill 5293 establishes the National Research Center for Sustainable Mineral Industry (NRCSMI), which shall lead in the research and development of sustainable practices and technologies in the mineral industry.

Amante said the Philippines is blessed with very large quantities of mineral resources valued at over $1 trillion making it the 5th most mineralized country in the world.

However, “despite its vast reserves, the country is unable to maximize these endowments due mainly to the negative public perception towards the mining industry,” Amante said. The fears expressed by different groups are not unfounded considering that mining had caused damages to the environment and several unforgettable tragedies, according to him.

“Another concern is the government’s lukewarm attitude largely due to the insignificant contribution of mining to the national economy,” Amante added.

But he stressed that to sit idly on precious mineral resources in view of the challenges should not be an option.
“Instead, the government must provide support to this ailing industry by allocating resources for the development of technologies and practices that will make mining activities more environmentally-and socially-sound; and enable us to maximize the use of minerals for industrialization,” Amante said.

As the lead research body of the government for the minerals industry, the NRCSMI shall be tasked to develop and promote the application of environmentally sound, efficient and economical mineral exploration, extraction and processing and mine rehabilitation technologies for transforming the minerals industry into a key contributor to the national industrialization.

The research agency shall likewise serve as the primary think-tank for the national government and local government units (LGUs) in the formulation and implementation of policies related to the mineral industry.

“It is also the function of the NRCSMI to create linkages with different local and foreign research bodies, academic institutions, advocacy groups, business groups and civil society organizations in order to facilitate and promote exchange of ideas and knowledge related to sustainable mining and mineral processing,” Amante elaborated.
The NRCSMI is likewise mandated to coordinate with the Professional Regulatory Commission and the Commission on Higher Education in the enhancement of mining engineering and metallurgical engineering curricula to ensure that these are progressive and responsive to the growing needs of the mineral industry.

The bill states that the NRCSMI shall be administered by a Board of Trustees composed of the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as chairman; Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau; Executive Director of the NRCSMI; a representative of the Department of Trade and Industry, a representative of the Board of Investments; and a representative of the National Economic Development Authority.

Two representatives from the private sector representing the large-scale mining and mineral processing industries to be appointed by the Secretary of DOST and from the academe are also members of the Board of Trustees.