MICC kicks off 1st phase of mines-closure review
Date: Mar 28, 2018
The Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) has started its review of the 26 mining sites ordered closed or suspended by former Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez, with the first phase of the review covering legal, technical and environmental concerns targeted for completion within a three-month period.
Finance Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin, who represents the Department of Finance during MICC meetings, said the MICC has kicked off its “fact-finding and science-based” review of an initial batch of the 26 mine sites with on-site visits that started this month.
During the MICC meeting earlier in the month, Agabin said the first phase of the review covering legal, technical and environmental concerns will be completed within a three-month period, while the social and economic aspects of the study will be done in another three months as requested by the technical review teams (TRTs).
“When we were looking at this, we set the period for review for three months. But when the teams were formed, the concern, especially on the economic study, is that they will need the inputs from the technical, the legal and the environment,” he said.
Dr. Marian de los Angeles, who is the overall coordinator of the TRTs, the experts comprising the teams are now in the field and commencing their review of the 26 mine sites.
De los Angeles said the second phase of the review focusing on the social and economic aspects will include a “social cost benefit analysis” and an “evaluation of the changes in the ecosystem,” as well as a “more in-detail look into the equity aspects” of the mining operations.