Mining 56, Presentation at Mining PH Conference 2017

Last month during the Mining Philippines Conference 2017, I was one of 6 panel discussants in one focus group discussion.

First I discussed the recent rants vs. open pit mining by ex-DENR Sec. Gina Lopez and why many of her points are wrong or non-sensical at the least. Then I discussed other issues about soil degradation, the coming global cooling and the need for more water catchments like mined-out open pits, then briefly about mining taxes.

Some open pits have become eco-tourism attractions.

My conclusions:

(2) Mined out or decommissioned open pit mines should as much as possible be left as is, not covered with soil then reforested. Multiple purposes: (a) as man-made dam and lake to catch excess water and flash flood, (b) reduce flooding downstream during heavy rains, (c) use the lake water for fishery, irrigation, hydro-power, even possible drinking water source someday, (d) or simply for eco-tourism.

(3) Current mining taxation (incl. royalties, regulatory fees, mandatory contributions) are high and plentiful. Any tax hike like raising mining excise tax from 2% to 10% should be compensated by a cut or abolition of other taxes and fees.

The 16-slides presentation is available here.
Meanwhile, some photos during our panel discussion that afternoon.

Photo credits: Mining Philippines (COMP) fb page.
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See also: 

Mining 53, Cobalt mining for electric cars, August 10, 2017 

Mining 54, Ralph Abainza on water table and Gina Lopez, September 30, 2017 

Mining 55, Kaleidoscope forum by UP MINERS, October 01, 2017

Mining 54, Ralph Abainza on water table and Gina Lopez

I am reposting a short discussion about water table by a friend, 4th year BS Geology student in UP Diliman, Ralph Abainza. He posted this in his fb wall and I shared it in my wall. The illustration I got from the water.usgs.gov that he cited among his sources below. Good paper, Ralph.

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AN OPEN LETTER OF APPEAL TO STOP FAKE NEWS ABOUT GEOLOGY

September 23, 2017

Dear Ms. Gina Lopez, can you please stop spreading FAKE NEWS, especially about my beloved field of study, Geology? Can you please use proper scientific references rather than emotions? It is very hard for me to accept how can someone twist scientific truths that we, long study and hold in our academic field.

“When you get these kinds of minerals, gold, copper, invariably, you hit a water table. You cannot not hit a water table because that is the geophysical makeup of the country. When you put [use] explosives, you hit a water table and that water table is needed by the communities,” - Gina Lopez [A]

First of all. The communities don’t need the water table, because it is just a boundary underneath; separating the water saturated layer from the non-saturated ones[1]. It is actually the groundwater that is needed.

YES. Mining such kinds of minerals will hit a water table because geologically speaking, the water table depth in the Philippines is shallow enough that even the foundations of the buildings here in Metro Manila hit it and even greatly surpass it down under [2]. In fact, if your family-managed ABS CBN building really followed the Building Code of the Philippines, its foundation already hit the water table in Quezon City! You seemingly affect the groundwater needed by the communities in Metro Manila, isn’t it?

“We are not Canada. In Canada you don’t hit a water table.” - Gina Lopez [A]

Where the hell did you get this idea that in Canada, you will not hit a water table? When you mine or construct any deep structure, you will hit a water table in Canada [3].

I would like to appeal to you to really stop spreading false scientific information for the sake of “environmentalism”. I am an environmentalist too and I really don’t consider misinforming the public just to save the environment, because it is highly irresponsible! Misinforming the public to save the environment is just as evil as neglecting it. Stop fake news now, especially concerning about my field, whom I am taking for several years now, just to understand and responsibly inform the people.

[1] Groundwater: https://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthgwaquifer.html

[2] Metro Manila and Metro Cebu Groundwater Assessment: https://serp-p.pids.gov.ph/serp-p/download.php?d=171&s=3

[3] https://web.viu.ca/earle/geol304/hg-manitoba.pdf

[A] Ex-DENR chief disputes COMP claim on open pits: https://businessmirror.com.ph/ex-denr-chief-disputes-comp-claim-on-open-pits/

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See also: 

Mining 51, Gina Lopez, Roy Cimatu and rule of law, May 14, 2017

Mining 52, Regulations and bureaucracies, the mining communities, June 07, 2017

Mining 53, Cobalt mining for electric cars, August 10, 2017

Mining 51, Gina Lopez, Roy Cimatu and rule of law

When Gina Lopez was finally rejected as DENR Secretary by the Commission on Appointments (CA), lots of conspiracy hypothesis were flying. And one thing I notice about these comments and opinions is that it seems all of the people who spread such opinions did not watch the 2 1/2 hours CA hearing of Gina last May 02, 2017.

I watched it in full and here are my impressions:

1. Simple questions answerable by Yes or No, Gina cannot answer. Her mind and mouth is full of emotions, little or nothing on specifics, numbers and law.

2. Three questions by Sen. Alan Cayetano: (a) how much of total PH land area is actively mined, (b) beach resorts, how much of total coastal land of the PH have beach resorts, (c) what are the standards and criteria for her recent orders on mine closure — she could not answer.

3. Questions on land multiple titles involving DENR corruption resulting in perennial land grabbing problem raised by 3 Congressmen, what she’s doing about it in her 10 months in office, she was clueless, no specific answer, only generalized ones like “we are cleaning up the department” or “we are computerizing things.” She can suspend or close down many mining firms that follow certain regulations but she cannot suspend or kick out any corrupt officials in her department the past 10 months.

4. Question on very dirty rivers like Marilao river, Pasig river, she answered “structural problems” daw, despite heading the Pasig river clean up commission. She has no specific plans to clean up these rivers.

5. Questions on unabated logging, she has no clear answer.

6. Questions on legal basis, what existing laws, as basis for her recent AOs (Administrative Orders) on P2M/hectare of “disturbed” agri land as deposit — no answer. She argued “my prerogative” as Secretary.  Congw. Josephine Sato who insisted on this issue is very specific in her points — “we are a nation of laws, not of men”. Our actions and policies should be based on existing laws, not on whims of men/women leaders. Bright legislator.

DENR work is more than mining. She’s very hard-working, very passionate, only in anti-mining campaigns. But she’s lazy on other mandates of the DENR. Gina's big problem is her big ego.

I liked Congw. Sato’s rejection of Gina’s “my prerogative as Secretary” answer to her question. Department Secretaries cannot legislate on their own, otherwise Secretaries of DA, DOTC, DPWH, DSWD, DAR, etc. can just issue dozens of AOs or Department circulars (DCS) creating new prohibitions and regulations, new fines and penalties, new subsidies and entitlements — all bypassing Congress as legislative body.

PDu30 made a mistake in appointing her as DENR Secretary even without fully scrutinizing her work ethics, her technical skills. Du30 corrected this mistake by not defending her at the CA.

People who oppose mining and argue “zero mining” are as confused as the people who say “zero fossil fuel”. These people should be riding bicycles or skateboards or just walking/running, or riding horses, cows, ponies. They should not ride cars, jeeps, buses, airplanes, ships because all these use fossil fuels 100%.

People who say “zero mining” don’t want to live in caves. Even barong-barong use mining products like nails, hammer, saw, bolo, etc. Hypocrisy always finds some scapegoats like the “oligarchs”, as if the Lopezes are not oligarchs.

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Last Monday, May 08, former AFP Chief Roy Cimatu was appointed as new DENR Secretary by President Duterte. A retired soldier, then labor diplomat in the Middle East, and now a DENR chief.

Perhaps near-zero official experience in managing an environment agency except in some tree planting activities of the AFP, his appointment is a guessing game for many sectors under DENR supervision — mining, forestry, solid waste, air pollution, coastal resources, rivers/lakes/sea water quality, land titling, etc.

Since all Cabinet posts are political appointees of the President, then it is assumed that the major policies of the appointed Secretary are also the policies of the President.

I am not a fan of “good governance” in a BIG government because it is a contradiction in terms. Big government almost always lead to bad governance because government would over-extend its power of coercion. Like creating a dozen new regulations on top of hundreds of regulations, laws and prohibitions that are already in place. That is what former DENR Secretary Gina Lopez did, creating new department regulations (administrative orders (AOs), department circulars (DCs), etc.) that pile up new requirements on top of existing ones, resulting in the closure and/or suspension of many mining firms.

The big question now is whether the new DENR Secretary will focus on the rule of law, enforce existing laws and regulations before creating new department orders or seek new laws in Congress. Like the laws regulating small-scale mines and quarrying equally implemented as the laws regulating large-scale metallic, non-metallic mines and quarrying.

This act alone of focusing on the rule of law will be a big improvement in the department and in the national government as a whole. A better situation of course is that many existing regulations that are “out of tune” are abolished, or consolidated with others so that instead of having 10 “out of tunes” AOs, DCs and other department orders, they are consolidated into one AO that is more “in tune” with the times.

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See also: 

Mining 48, Sec. Gina Lopez's rants, DENR inaction in other sectors, April 08, 2017 

Mining 49, Ma'am Monsod on poverty in mining areas, April 12, 2017 

Mining 50, Canada mining taxation, April 21, 2017 

BWorld 129, Open pit mines and the DENR Secretary, May 12, 2017

BWorld 129, Open pit mines and the DENR Secretary

* This is my article in BusinessWorld on May 02, 2017.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary, Ms. Gina Lopez, created a stir with the issuance of DENR AO (Administrative Order) No. 2017-10, banning all prospective “open-pit method of mining for copper, gold, silver, and complex ores.”

  

To be excluded in her AO are existing open-pit mining (OPM) of metals, existing quarries, and prospective quarries for non-metallic products like granite, marbles, and limestone.

The reason for the new order is that OPM by large metallic firms is destructive to the environment and that the method is already being avoided by many countries around the world.

This is not true, for three reasons.

One, almost all forms of deforestation or land conversion from forest to non-forest uses (agriculture, housing, commercial and industrial development, road construction, quarrying of non-metallic products, etc.) create damage to the natural environment and yet only large metallic mining is singled out.

Two, OPM concentrates metallic extraction in a few thousand hectares of land and spare millions of hectares of reservation from further disturbance and extraction.

Three, OPM continues to be practiced in many countries including developed ones like the US, Australia, Sweden, and Canada. Because mining firms and their stockholders earn substantial incomes, their governments get huge tax revenues, and many workers get long-term high-paying jobs.

What Ms. Lopez will likely do among others, if she is confirmed by the Congressional Commission on Appointment (CA) as DENR Secretary:

1. Enforce and implement the closure of 22 large metallic mines and continue hiding the results of their so-called “audit” as basis for such closure order. This is because the Mining and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) conducts a quarterly review of all mining firms based on technical criteria and its 4x a year assessment produce no recommendations of large-scale mine closure while the Secretary’s “audit” seems to be based on emotional criteria, hence it remains hidden.

2. Continue turning a blind eye on plenty of small-scale miners which operate more destructive open-pit mines to extract gold. About 80% of all gold purchases by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) are sourced from these small scale mines as gold output by large metallic mines is limited owing to regulations and prohibitions, if not outright closure orders.

3. Enforce and implement DENR AO 2017-10.

4. Create new AOs in the future that will ban and close existing OPM, producing another round of “audits” justifying such closure orders.

To avoid these and other uncertainties in the industry, the CA should consider rejecting her appointment. Let the President appoint a new DENR secretary.

The main purpose of government is to lay down rules and implement laws that apply to all, to institutionalize the rule of law that apply equally to unequal people and players,that exempt no one and rulers are prevented from making exemptions. Giving rulers and in this case a Cabinet secretary, the power to make exemptions is tantamount to the rule of men that despise the rule of law.

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See also: 

BWorld 122, Six more myths in the mining debate, April 13, 2017 

BWorld 126, Why mining is appropriate for certain areas and provinces, May 06, 2017 

BWorld 127, Economic freedom in Asia means faster growth, lower prices, May 07, 2017 

BWorld 128, The quest for more stable and cheaper electricity in the ASEAN, May 08, 2017

BWorld 126, Why mining is appropriate for certain areas and provinces

* This is my article in BusinessWorld on April 21, 2017.

Biodiversity of living things is more common in the tropics compared to those in the northern and southern hemisphere. Geological diversity of nonliving things is more common in the Pacific countries as there are more volcanic and earthquake movements in the “Pacific Rim of Fire” than the rest of the planet.

That is why for almost all commodities -- copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, nickel, bauxite, zinc, lead, etc. -- countries in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are the dominant suppliers and exporters. Volcanic gases and molten rocks are the main producers of mineral products below the ground.

There is a good study on the mineral potentials of APEC economies published more than two years ago. Some definitions of the terms used in the table below:

1. Mineral rent is the difference between the value of production for a stock of minerals at world prices and their total costs of production.

2. Mining Contribution Index (MCI) is calculated based on aspects of mining and metals contribution to national economies, composite for three variables: (a) Mineral export contribution in 2010 as percent of total merchandise exports, (b) Increase/decrease in mineral export contribution 2005 to 2010, and; (c) Mineral production value as a percentage of GDP in 2010.

The above numbers show the following:

1. Countries on the “ring side” of the Pacific Rim generally have higher MCI -- Australia, Chile, Papua New Guinea, Peru -- than those a bit far from the Rim. Thus, while China has the biggest mining rent in 2013, it has low MCI.

2. The Philippines’ low mining rent and output is mainly a result of the policy and taxation environment that is generally not attractive to more big corporate mining but the country has high MCI. It is the world’s 2nd biggest producer of nickel, next only to Indonesia.

3. Employment in mining is generally low relative to total population because the industry is very capital intensive. Workers hardly use spades and other manual tools; they use huge trucks, loaders, bulldozers, and other machines. Thus, the Philippines’ 0.22% that is being looked down by many anti-mining groups as being “not job-creating enough” is actually higher than those in Indonesia, Canada, Mexico and USA.

The Philippines is one of the most mineral-rich countries in the planet, the archipelago being largely a product of volcanic movement rising from below the sea millions or billions of years ago. Thus, mining potential is very high even utilizing only a small portion -- less than 1% -- of the country’s total land area.

Recently, DENR Secretary Gina Lopez has launched a series of lectures and public fora advocating “more investments in biodiversity than in mining.” This is after she ordered the closure of 22 mines and suspended five others, and ordered a P2-million bond by mining companies per hectare of “disturbed” agricultural lands before they can haul their mineral stockpiles.

The Secretary has not produced any realistic numbers of biodiversity investments while the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (CoMP) has projected at least $30 billion of big mining investments in the next 10 years if the policy environment has improved and stabilized.

In my agro-forestry farming experience in a farm in Bugallon, Pangasinan since two and a half decades ago, I saw how mahogany trees we planted would grow well in a relatively rich soil but would have stunted growth, many even die, just about 50-100 meters away in land with high silica deposit and potentials. This further shows that mineral-rich lands and mountains are generally less conducive for agriculture and even for forestry because the soil has very low nitrogen and phosphorous levels.

The government should optimize the high mining potential of the Philippines -- to create more jobs, generate more exports and economic output, give more community projects that mining companies are mandated to provide.

Big government presence in mining is justified only in laying down rules that apply to all, big and small-scale miners. Big mining companies in particular are expected to strictly follow existing rules especially those provided by the Mining Act of 1995.

Beyond that, there should be less government interventions and taxation, there should be less political harassment and business uncertainty, especially with many mining closures and suspensions.

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See also: 

BWorld 122, Six more myths in the mining debate, April 13, 2017 

BWorld 123, Drug-related murders and criminal justice in Asia, April 23, 2017 

BWorld 124, On Grab, Uber, traffic and LTFRB, May 05, 2017 

BWorld 125, On the retail competition and open access (RCOA) and EPIRA, May 05, 2017

BWorld 122, Six more myths in the mining debate

* This is my article in BusinessWorld last March 29, 2017.

A piece that I wrote for this space, “Seven myths in the mining debate” (March 15), has attracted attention from many readers, expressing either support or disagreement. One even sent an angry comment via e-mail. So I will add additional myths in the continuing debate on the issue.

To review, here are the seven myths discussed in the earlier article:

1. Mining contributes small, only P70 billion a year in gross value added (GVA).

2. Mining tax payment is small at only P3 billion a year.

3. Employment share of mining is very small at only around 100,000 workers.

4. Very small benefits, better stop all mining activities.

5. Open pit mining must be banned anywhere.

6. Closure of many mining firms means better investment environment.

7. Mining is entirely useless, we should have none of it.

HERE ARE ADDITIONAL MYTHS.

1 Large-scale mining covers a huge area of the Philippines.

Wrong. Only 2.3% of the Philippines’ total land area is covered by mining permits composed of 319 Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) and five Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA). Of this figure, only 0.27% of land area is actively mined, the rest are for roads, offices, houses, hospitals, schools, other community projects; mined out and rehabilitated areas, or for future mining. (See table.) 

What made the impression of “huge mining areas” include those under small scale mines (SSM) like in Mt. Diwalwal.

2 Large-scale mining is the biggest cause of soil erosion.

Wrong. Very often, it is deforestation or conversion of forest land into pasture land, agriculture land, or simply the endless cutting of trees in public forests.

The DENR is not exactly known to efficiently address these problems because it prefers to take more political noise in mining.

3 More mining areas result in more poverty.

Generally wrong. The top 20 poorest provinces in the Philippines and their poverty incidence are: (1) Tawi-Tawi 78.9%, (2) Zamboanga Del Norte 63.0%, (3) Maguindanao 62.0%, (4) Apayao 57.5%, (5) Surigao Del Norte 53.2%, (6) Lanao Del Sur 52.5%, (7) Northern Samar 52.2%, (8) Masbate 51.0%, (9) Abra 50.1%, and (10) Misamis Occidental 48.8%.

(11) Agusan Del Sur 48.7%, (12) Oriental Mindoro 47.1%, (13) Sulu 46.5%, (13) Occidental Mindoro 46.5%, (15) Kalinga 45.8%, (16) Surigao Del Sur 45.4%, (17) Mountain Province 45.0%, (18) Sarangani 44.8%, (19) Lanao Del Norte 44.1%, and (20) Negros Oriental 43.7%. (Source: NEDA, Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022).

Of these, only five host big mining companies (with an area of at least 4,000 hectares): Zamboanga del Norte (2 firms), Surigao del Norte (5 firms), Surigao del Sur (3 firms), and Mindoro Occidental and Oriental (2 firms).

These 21 provinces hosting big mining companies (at least 4,000 hectares) are not in the Top 20 poorest:, Zamboanga del Sur (Siennalyn Gold, TVI, 168 Ferum, Vilor), Sultan Kudarat (GRCO Isulan), Agusan del Norte (Agata), Davao Oriental (Hallmark, Austral-Asia Link, Dabawenyo Minerals, Sinophil, Oro East), Dinagat Islands (East Coast), Compostela Valley (Napnapan), Sarangani (Hard Rock).

Capiz and Iloilo (Teresa Marble, Parvis Gold,), Samar (Alumina, Bauxite), Leyte (Explosive Consult., Fastem Construction, Strong Built), Palawan (C. Palawan, Palawan Star, Pyramid Hill, Narra Nickel), Quezon and Camarines Sur (VIL Mines), Benguet (Philex), Zambales (Mina Tierra, Eramen), Cagayan (Peniel, JVDC, T&T, J&M), Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino (Oceana Gold), Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan (Altamina Exploration).

4 Mining can stop in the Philippines but continues in other countries.

Wrong. Mining is either good or bad; if bad then mining should stop worldwide, the same way that anti-coal campaigners want all coal power plants to close worldwide, not just in the Philippines. If mining is good abroad then the good practices should be adopted here. The law in post-Marcopper mining disaster in Marinduque, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 has been hailed by many countries as the one of the world’s first stringent mining laws.

5 Open pit mines are destructive and not done in developed countries.

Wrong. Six of the 10 biggest and deepest open mines in the world are found in the US (Bingham Canyon, Hull-Rust-Mahoning), Canada (Diavik Diamond), Australia (Super Pit) and Russia (Mir Diamond Mine, Udachny Diamond). The other four are found in S. Africa (Kimberly Diamond), Indonesia (Grasberg Mine), and Chile (Chuquicamata Copper, Escondida Copper).

6 DENR Secretary’s closure of mining firms follows the rule of law.

Wrong. Secretary Gina Lopez has disregarded procedures and even the recommendations of her technical staff. As pointed out by Rep. Josephine Sato, “We are the legislature; if you’re not happy with the law tell us we will review and revise if necessary but you can’t legislate on your own...”

Mining practices that follow international and national regulations should continue and contribute to economic modernization and job creation. Those that violate these laws deserve suspension or closure.

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See also: 

BWorld 19, Taxation and regulations in PH mining industry, September 24, 2015

BWorld 119, Seven myths in the mining debate, April 07, 2017

BWorld 120, Five myths of solar-wind energy, April 08, 2017 

BWorld 121, The PH tax reform bill and tax policies in East Asia, April 10, 2017

Mining 48, Sec. Gina Lopez's rants, DENR inaction in other sectors

The other day, DENR Secretary Gina Lopez was recorded belittling a BWorld reporter as ...

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=denr&8217s-lopez-defends-new-mining-directive-as-she-accuses-ibwi-reporter-of-&145being-bought&8217&id=143441

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/606173/news/nation/gina-lopez-recorded-telling-reporter-you-re-just-a-f-ing-employee

http://interaksyon.com/business/138315/quizzed-on-mining-directive-gina-lopez-vents-ire-on-bw-reporter-youre-just-a-f---ing-employee

The issue is Sec. Lopez's new order requiring mining companies to pay P2 million/hectare for farmlands that are affected by mining, the BWorld reporter asked her about this and related issues and the Secretary lost her temper.  I did not see the new order but offhand, how can the DENR prove which farms are "disadvantaged", at what extent or level, vs those that are not adversely affected?

When this was reported in the news, she was upset, or angry. Well, she is angry that her hypocrisy is recorded and publicized. In public she portrays herself as a caring person but in private she can be a b__c but people should not record and report it. But reporters always record their interviews whether in a formal press conference or informal "press ambush" while walking.

Here is the backlash.

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Other DENR concerns that Ms. Lopez seems to ignore.

These are the mountains in western Pangasinan (municipalities of Aguilar, Bugallon, Labrador), I took this photo just 2 weeks ago. Is Sec. Gina Lopez going there making video behind those bald mountains asking "what have we done for the future, the future?"

No, of course. Why? Because there are no big mining companies to blame there. The DENR and LGU people are not doing enough to stop the regular cutting and stealing of trees in public forest land.

A mountain just behind the NGCP station in Labrador, Pangasinan, photo also taken 2 weeks ago. This is a "public forest land", no big mining or big logging activity there. Would the "passionate" Lopez  go there and record a video lambast the people who regularly steal whatever regenerating trees there? Nope, no media mileage or political pogi point kasi walang mining firm na pweding birahin at sisihin.

Another non-work of "passionate" Lopez. Manila Bay, Paranaque area, article dated February 18, 2017, file photo June 8, 2013.

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/We-are-Turning-the-Oceans-into-Plastic-Waste-Dumps-20150218-0052.html

Marilao river, Bulacan. Date of article May 24, 2016. Would the Secretary go there and make a video attacking some companies? Nope, there are no mining firms to blame for siltation-pollution-environmental destruction of the river.

http://2016.mb.com.ph/2016/05/24/its-time-marilao-meycauayan-rivers-are-cleaned-up-says-gov/

This is a river in our barrio in Cadiz City, Negros Occ. Until about 25 yrs or more, the river width was 2x to 3x its current width. Large-scale soil erosion due to sugarcane farming upstream. Because of the narrower river, there is frequent flooding in the area, yearly, several times a year flooding.

This is obviously outside the work of DENR, this is DA, DPWH and LGU work. But it shows that large-scale soil erosion can be caused by agriculture, frequent tilling of land. I took this photo last month.

If government is to be strict in its environmental laws, it should be strict in all sectors and sub-sectors: big and small-scale mining, big and small-scale logging, tilling of farmlands, protection of rivers from solid wastes and huge soil erosion, and so on. Government should not pick just a few sectors for strict compliance and ignore the others.

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See also:

Mining 45, Presentation at UP Diliman, October 02, 2015

Mining 46, The new DENR Secretary and other watermelon activists, July 07, 2016 

Mining 47, JB Baylon on the DENR Secretary, March 01, 2017

Mining 47, JB Baylon on the DENR Secretary

I am reposting here two of JB Baylon's facebook postings about the new DENR Secretary Gina Lopez and the mining industry. These 2 papers were posted by JB last February 26. 

For me, there are two issues here in the on-going controversial policies of Sec. Lopez: (1) heavy government regulations and taxation of the mining industry, and (2) rule of law, when government revokes the mining/business permits that itself has granted.

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AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CBCP

It seems that some members of your ranks are raising the flag of LAUDATO SI to call for the confirmation of the DENR secretary designate.

Please ask these individuals to make sure they have read it and read it well.

Because if they did they should have noticed this:

1. The Holy Father mentions mining directly ONLY ONCE - on Paragraph 51 where he rails against the harm caused by mercury pollution in gold mining and sulphur dioxide pollution in copper mining.

That's in one line in one paragraph out of 246.

2. But the Holy Father mentions "impulsive and wasteful" consumption (par 162), "scandalous level of conusmption" (par 172), the need to modify consumption (par 180) over THIRTY TIMES!!

That's THIRTY TIMES versus ONCE.

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WHY SHE IS A BAD CHOICE EVEN IF SHE IS A LOPEZ

(Or maybe because she is one?)

SHE SAYS: : mining is damaging our environment! If you love your country, really really love your country, you should be against mining. The environment is more important than the money the miners make!

THE TRUTH: mining covers less than 3% of our TOTAL LAND AREA - so if as she claims that mining does damage the environment in 3% of the country. who inflicts the damage on the rest, on the 97%???

But more importantly RESPONSIBLE MINING means PROGRESSIVE REHABILITATION... and over the last five or so years mining firms have planted over 20 MILLION TREES nationwide.

Not to mention coral reef rehab.

Finally she has not acted against illegal mining especiallly the small scale operations that pollute the environment, are not required to rehabilitate their mining areas and do not pay taxes properly!

SHE SAYS: Mining makes communities poor. Look at Caraga it remains the poorest region in the country!

THE TRUTH: Mining communities are far better off with responsible mining that brings electricity, schools, Clinics, scholarships, roads and other businesses. Mining firms spend BILLIONS to fill the void that Government misses in remote areas. Without mining, the residents of these otherwise remote communities will have to fall back on subsistence farming or subsistence fishing. Most mining areas are inhospitable areas or areas whose soil is not loam soil that is perfect for agriculture.

Without mining they won't be poor - they'll be dirt poor!

SHE SAYS: There is no such thing as RESPONSIBLE MINING.

THE TRUTH: On her first day in office (July 1) she was told by Leo Jasareno that all mining firms had to undergo ISO 14001 certification which is the HIGHEST international standard. She hailed ISO 14001 as "another way of saying responsible mining." But maybe the next day she found out that most mining operations obtained their ISO 14001 certifications - so she scrapped that and conducted her own audit. But if ISO 14001 is the HIGHEST standard, then her audit has LOWER STANDARDS, yes?

SHE SAYS: Embrace Laudato Si, the Papal Encyclical on Climate Change! Those against mining use Laudato Si to condemn the industry.

THE TRUTH: Laudato Si is made up of 246 paragraphs. The Holy Father only mentions mining ONCE, in paragraph 51. But he lambasts wasteful and shameful consumption more than 30 times and points out that MEDIA fuels the consumption mindset.

She should be LAUDED for her passion.

But she should be REJECTED for the position she aspires for because her PASSION colors her MINDSET.

Just because she is passionate and a Lopez do not make her a good choice to be Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources.

We need a better one/ someone who knows the Law, is incorruptible, has a fear of God and is no-nonsense. Like lawyer Tony LaViña or geologist Caloy Arcilla. You cant run circles around either of them even if you tried.

Reject Gina Lopez.

Let the DENR's loss be the ABS CBN Foundation's gain!

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See also:

Mining 44, Presentation at the Mining 2015 Conference, September 17, 2015 

Mining 45, Presentation at UP Diliman, October 02, 2015

BWorld 19, Taxation and regulations in PH mining industry, September 24, 2015 

Mining 46, The new DENR Secretary and other watermelon activists, July 07, 2016

Mining 3: Debates on Mining

My article, FAT-FREE ECONOMICS: Mining and environmentalism, fancy and reality
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/26966/fat-free-economics-mining-and-environmentalism-fancy-and-reality has attracted various comments and debates + 219 facebook recommendations, as of 6pm, March 17, 2012. Below are the comments and exchanges in interaksyon.com.

I also posted that article in my facebook wall, and it also attracted more comments from some friends. I am posting those comments, further below.

Readers can see the various perspectives and opinions about the mining debate. So enjoy reading.
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Nonoy Oplas, Mel Lorenzo Accad and 219 others recommend this.

13 comments

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  Joshua Lipana · Subscribed ·  Top Commenter · Assitant Editor, TOS Blog at The Objective Standard
  

  Spot on! "No mining, no modern life. No mining, no steel and cement, no glasses and minerals, no cars and buses, no cellular phones and computers, no electrical wires and cables, no TV and air-con, no malls and buildings, no tricycles and tractors. Steel, cement, copper, nails, etc. all come from mining, not from farming or fishing, not from politics or government. A typical cellphone is made up of cobalt, silver, gold and palladium - all are mineral products. Even a barong-barong or bahay kubo will require nails, hammer, saw or bolo/itak - all from mining."

  Reply · 3 · Unlike · Follow Post · Yesterday at 12:12am
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  Joshua Lipana · Subscribed ·  Top Commenter · Assitant Editor, TOS Blog at The Objective Standard
  

  We should deregulate the private sector and liberate productive businessmen and entrepreneurs to create as much value and prosperity as they can. We should welcome profit, employment, and the development of resources. We should welcome a higher standard of living. Yes to mining.

  Reply · 3 · Unlike · Follow Post · Yesterday at 12:12am
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  Tyrone John R. Gotera ·  Top Commenter · Packer at Sbc packers
  

  LOPEZs of ABS-CBN must live without cellphone, computer, a decent house, and everything that is made of steel or mineral just to make them realize that their anti-mining advocacy is only a fat! Wahaha!

  Reply · 3 · Unlike · Follow Post · Yesterday at 1:39am
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  Fred Nefy
  

  "mine & go" benefits only the rich like MVP. Put those factories here and manufacture these minerals here in the Philippines... not China! so the common people can get more jobs.

  Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · Yesterday at 8:07am

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    Keith Ivan Ong Meridores · De La Salle University
    

    how can you manufacture minerals? minerals are the ones used for manufacturing stuff. hahahaha!

    Reply · 1 · Like · Yesterday at 10:10am
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    Ike Eslao · Works at SMI-Xstrata Copper
    

    Obviously you are one of those ignorant followers of Gina Lopez. Tell that to the thousands of people who now work in legitimate mining and the supply chain that go with it.

    Reply · Like · 2 hours ago
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  Lloyd Tordecillas · Subscribe ·  Top Commenter · Reports Analyst/Developer at Red Core Solutions
  

  yes mining is good... if it is properly regulated.... I repeat: PROPERLY regulated.

  Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · Thursday at 8:49pm

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    Nonoy Oplas · University of the philippines
    

    Yes, and I suggested that all regulations should apply to all players, small-medium-large-scale mining, no exception.

    Reply · 3 · Like · Thursday at 9:33pm
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    Lloyd Tordecillas · Subscribe ·  Top Commenter ·Reports Analyst/Developer at Red Core Solutions
    

    Sir Nonoy Oplas , that is now the problem... we currently don't have a promising government that will properly regulate mining in all aspect.

    Reply · Like · Thursday at 9:35pm
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    Nonoy Oplas · University of the philippines
    

    That's indeed a problem, and people who criticize large-scale and corporate mining should recognize that too, because they tend to be very critical with corporate mining but are silent on the abuses and unsustainable practices of small scale mining.

    Reply · 2 · Like · Thursday at 9:38pm
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    Lloyd Tordecillas · Subscribe ·  Top Commenter ·Reports Analyst/Developer at Red Core Solutions
    

    Nonoy Oplas Yes sir, I totally agree! it's not mining, it's governance...

    Reply · Like · Thursday at 9:42pm
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    Miguel Galang ·  Top Commenter · Manila, Philippines
    

    Lloyd Tordecillas nah, we have a president who is a personal friend of the lopezes

    Reply · Like · Thursday at 10:22pm
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  Glyd Jun Arañes · Research Assistant at Philippine Women's College of Davao
  

  I don't want mining to be supported in this country, for the good reason that Filipinos will be the ones with the least benefits from this. Imagine, foreign companies create mining firms in the country, they take out all the precious materials, while our people do get paid for their work these firms return those precious materials as final products--for a greater price than what our Filipino miners' salary. Capitalist exploitation at its finest.
  
  I'd rather Philippines make mining firms OUTSIDE the country and manufacture goods. Isn't that the system of rich countries, so Philippines should emulate it.

  Reply · Like · Follow Post · Thursday at 11:53pm

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    Henry Joseph V. Sarmiento
    

    Sound advise but we are not a rich country capable of competing against huge mining corporations. Lets be realistic, the only way we can benefit is by changing the law/policies to ensure that our country is the one that benefits the most from the country's mining sector and implement it correctly!

    Reply · Like · Yesterday at 9:38am
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    Nonoy Oplas · University of the philippines
    

    Based on data from the Chamber of Mines, other sources, 70-90 percent of all mining in the country are small-scale, only 10-30% are large-scale mining. Even the central bank or BSP says that they get 60% or more of their gold reserves from small scale mining. The notion that multinationals control mining in the country is wrong.

    Reply · 1 · Like · Yesterday at 11:10am
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    Diane Dugan Eustaquio
    

    Mr. Aranes, you need to research more. You come from Davao, where a lot of gold sourced by the Central Bank comes from - are the miners there legitimate foreign companies? Aren't the small scale miners in Diwalwal Filipinos? Tell me who among the Philippine mining firms have the money to do mining outside of the Philippines?

    Reply · 1 · Unlike · 22 hours ago
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    Ike Eslao · Works at SMI-Xstrata Copper
    

    Another ignorant follwer of Gina Lopez. You don't know that mining under FTAA brings 70% of revenue to the government. If all the illegally mined gold were done via legitimate mining, the Phil government could have been as rich as most middle east countries by now. Foreign mining companies? Who do you think drilled all the oils in the middle east and all the diamonds in South Africa? If they were exploited by foreign companies, why do middle east countries control the world's oil?

    Reply · 1 · Unlike · 2 hours ago
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  Ike Eslao · Works at SMI-Xstrata Copper
  

  If mining is dangerous, then using fire for cooking is more dangerous because fires kill more people than mining. Let them eat raw food. So those who oppose mining and all other dangerous activities should go back to living in caves and eat raw meat.

  Reply · 1 · Unlike · Follow Post · 2 hours ago
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  Russel John Ambrocio · University of Makati, Philippines
  

  hindi rin, bakit nu ba ngagawang epkekto ng mining sa bansa? sinisira yung mga kagubatan buti ba kung napapalitan ang kagubatan eh. tapos yung mga pumapabor kapag nasalanta sa GOBYERNO ANG SISI. PERO SILA NAKINABANG SA PAGMIMINA NA YUN. SANA MAGING MULAT TYO SA KATOTOHANAN HINDI MAGING MULAT SA PERA! TUMINGIN TYO SA MAHABANG EPEKTO HINDI SA ONE TIME NA KAGINHAWAHAN....

  Reply · Like · Follow Post · Thursday at 11:51pm

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    Ike Eslao · Works at SMI-Xstrata Copper
    

    Mukhang isa pang ignoranteng follower in Gina Lopez. Mining companies nagtanim na ng 15 million puno. Ikaw ilan bang puno ang natanim mo?

    Reply · Like · about an hour ago
    
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  Olfu Pointgetter · Subscribe ·  Top Commenter
  

  kaya nga Sabi ko MVP REGULATED mining only!

  Reply · Like · Follow Post · Yesterday at 9:20am
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  Ace Christian Serraon · Subscribe ·  Top Commenter ·Panginoong Maylupa at Silong ni Pepe Internet at Kape
  

  No mining, no modern life FTW!

  Reply · Like · Follow Post · Yesterday at 12:45am
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  Nard Beringuela · Subscribe
  

  No mining, no modern life? Haha! That's basically true and this is the main justification why mining companies should continue their operations? But look at the communities near the mining sites. Do they experience the so-called "modern life?" If you will look on another lens, yes, with mining operations near their areas, they can have jobs, but look at the big difference in terms of what they receive from what the mining firm is getting. And mind you guys, cars, buses, cellphones, computers, tv, air-con are not manufactured here. We only export the raw materials to advanced countries, then we import the finish products. Well, that is globalization right? Division of labor? But if this process continues, our own resources will be depleted. We should really push the govt to regulate mining firms and implement a responsible mining policy. With that, we can protect both the environment and the people living in the countryside which are greatly affected by mining operations. We rely on true, scientific and realistic policies that will enable us to use our resources benefit our own people.
  I'm not a pro in things like this. But this is my stand in regard to the mining policies that we have right now and I hope our govt should really discuss this issue asap.

  Reply · Like · Follow Post · Yesterday at 11:27am

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    Nonoy Oplas · University of the philippines
    

    As I posted above, about 70-90 percent of all mining activities in the country are done by small-medium scale operations, only 10-30% by large-scale companies. So the fear of "foreign or multinationals control", or "big capitalist control" is wrong. I also wrote in my paper that govt should indeed regulate the industry, and that its regulations should apply to all, small to large operations.

    Reply · Like · Yesterday at 4:19pm
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  Ike Eslao · Works at SMI-Xstrata Copper
  

  Calling the editor of this article: You are using graphics from illegal mining. Illegal mining is the biggest reason for mercury poisoning and increasing the incidence of poverty in so-called mining areas because they are hired by chinese traders who smuggle the gold out and corrupt local officials who protect them. They destroy the environment, enslave poor people and blameeverything to legitimate mining. Gina Lopez showed pictures of illegal mining to blame legitimate mining. Yet she never said a word about illegal mining. Very honest sya!

  Reply · 1 · Unlike · Follow Post · about an hour ago
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  Olfu Pointgetter · Subscribe ·  Top Commenter
  

  pero again sabi nga ni LOPEZ NO AMOUNT of reforestation ang possible pag 2luyan daw nakalbo ang mga bundok//puno. pero ang saken nman ok lng kahit mabuhay pa sa kweba BAM! ok n yun! pero dapat madami good stufss ehehehe at xempre kung gs2 tlg nila mining yung dapat piling pili at regulated.. we need to get the point of the Anti's and the Pro's in mining pra balance lng yun ang totoo and that is the FUNKING realistic world.

  Reply · Like · Follow Post · Yesterday at 9:31am

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    Nonoy Oplas · University of the philippines
    

    All the stuff made by ABS-CBN, Meralco, Powerplant Mall, etc -- cement, steel, electrical cables, audio & video equiptment, OB vans and towers, etc., are products of mining. The most rabid anti-mining groups are not prepared to live in caves, no electricity, no internet, no facebook.

    Reply · Like · Yesterday at 11:15am
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    Olfu Pointgetter · Subscribe ·  Top Commenter
    

    Nonoy Oplas the most rabid anti-mining groups are not prepared to live in caves, no electricity, no internet, no facebook. - you are probably right there man yeah not just the rabid but the funking corrupt crocodiles in the politics as wel but not all i thinkl!! but mine is i hope they choose the right mining place and when they start their mining job i hope they will regulate it THe most RABID anti mining groups also are probaly uneducated about it or they have theire own special reason why they are aginst it

    Reply · 1 · Unlike · Yesterday at 12:09pm
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    Ike Eslao · Works at SMI-Xstrata Copper
    

    Another ignorant follower of Gina Lopez. You don't know mining has planted over 15 million trees accross the country while the anti-mining people have not even planted a fraction of this. Eh ikaw, how many trees have you planted yourself?

    Reply · Like · 2 hours ago

And here are the comments from my facebook wall. Byron, apologies for not asking your permission to post your comments outside of my facebook wall. I need the readers of this blog post to see and read your points, something that many of them may share. Besides, my facebook wall is generally "public" to my 1,300+ friends and perhaps, can be seen by other people who are not my fb friends.

• Byron Abadeza pero sir, yung kampanya to stop large scale mining ay sa mga "no-go zones" sa Pilipinas (mga watershed area, heritage at protected areas, atbp), may mga lugar din na ang DENR mismo ang nag-identify sa geohazard map nila. Hindi naman zero mining sa buong mundo ang gusto, hindi pa nga zero mining sa buong Pilipinas eh, wala nga din malinaw na posisyon sa small-scale eh ang talagang tinututulan ay large-scale sa mga no-go zones na identified na ng batas at ng DENR
  

  Thursday at 10:16pm ·  ·  1
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  Nonoy Oplas Thanks for that insight Byron. In most anti-mining literatures that I saw and read, like in Semirara, Marinduque, Surigao, etc., the focus is on the "ugliness" of an open-pit mining sites, whether they are go or no-go zones and thus, the call for an end to large-scale, corporate mining.
  

  Thursday at 10:35pm · 
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  Maritess Tesoro pag-iisipan ko, hehe
  

  Thursday at 10:36pm · 
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  Byron Abadeza gaya din nga sir ng sabi ninyo, may iba pang paraan ng pagmimina, yung open-pit daw ang pinaka-mapaminsala sa kalikasan kaya may-ban dito ang ilang LGUs sa Pilipinas at ilang bansa sa mundo
  

  Thursday at 11:12pm · 
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  Nonoy Oplas I wrote in my article,
  "If it is possible to do mining via underground tunnels, it should be good and cool. The problem is that it will make mining and mineral products costlier, and people will complain. They want their computers and cellphones, their TV and refrigerators, their motorcycles, cars and tractors, their construction materials and electricity rates, to be cheap and affordable."
  

  Thursday at 11:14pm · 
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  Byron Abadeza ako eh mas medyo pundamental yung objection ko sa large scale mining, isipin na lang ninyo yung Makati na mga 27sq.km (mga 7.++ x 4.++ km), tapos bakuran, hukayin, at butasan mo ng mga 2km (either pahaba, pabilog, etc.), siguro kakain ng mga hanggang 5sq.km., ngayon eh paligiran mo ng tubig dagat at gawin mong isla, nakakatuwa ba yun? Ganyan ang nangyari/nangyayari sa Manicani Island sa Eastern Samar na kalahati ng size ng Makati. bagay ng large scale sa mga nasa kontinente (kung saan naman talaga nagmula yung mga large scale mining companies), hindi sila bagay sa Pilipinas, lalo na sa mga isla natin
  

  Thursday at 11:41pm · 
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  Nonoy Oplas May points ka dyan By. Nakapunta ka HK di ba, ganda ng new airport nila. Gawa yon from reclaimed land, dating dagat, naging isla. Saan sila kumuha ng lupa at bato, saan pa, di sa ibang isla at lupa nila, kinalbo ang mga puno, kinayod ng libo-libong byahe ng mga bulldozers, backhoe, etc., kinarga sa mga barges at nilagay sa dagat, tumaas ang lupa, nilagyan ng semento at mga bakal, airport na. Super laking airport. Yong kinalbo at kinayod nilang mga isla? Ang pangit din ng hitsura. I think similar scenes as open pit mining.
  
  Even the most "responsible", the most "sustainable" mining, land reclamation, highway constructions, etc., will have environmental tradeoff. Zero damage to the environment is impossible. Just a question of how much tradeoff we can accept and tolerate.
  

  Thursday at 11:58pm · 
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  Byron Abadeza gaya ng sabi ko hindi ako gusto yung trade off sa mga isla, ngayon kung di naman sa mga isla, matatanggap ko kung ang resulta talaga eh paggaan sa buhay ng mga tao (yung kapag nagtrabaho ka ng husto eh maa-ani mo yung pinaghirapan mo) marami na akong nakausap na mga nagtrabaho ng ilang dekada sa large scale mining pero hindi naman naging magaan ang buhay matapos ang ilang dekada, yung mga naging magaan ang buhay ay dahil sa pagsisikap ng mga anak nila na makapag-ibang bansa atbp, mas lamang pa yung mga naga-ayos ng paninda sa supermarket eh kapag nakapagsilbi sila ng 20 years eh may separation pay na milyon kapag nagsara yung kumpanya. yung sa marinduque eh ewan ko kung maliban sa mine tailings eh may iniwan sila sa mga naging trabahador nila mula sa mga kumunidad (marami kasi sa mga full time na nagta-trabaho sa large scale mines eh mga dayo) nung magsara sila
  

  Yesterday at 9:16am · 

There is a need to display more responsibility on both or all sides of the mining debate. The mining companies, small to large enterprises, need to be more responsible and accountable of their actions. The anti-mining groups and individuals, need to be more realistic in admitting up to what extent of environmental damage they can tolerate because a "zero damage" to the environment is impossible, as I and others have argued above.

There will be more grey areas that will surface and this debate will continue into the future.
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See also:
Mining 1: Mineral Rights, September 09, 2010
Mining 2: Insurgents and Mining Companies, October 25, 2011
Fat-Free Econ 3: Mining and Environmentalism, March 15, 2012