The regional director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-6 said in a press statement yesterday that the MGB strongly supports the positive stand of stakeholders and public officials in Negros Occidental for responsible mining. 

Director Leo Van Juguan said that Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez is right in saying that mining can create opportunities for employment and economic development should responsible mining operations push through in potential areas in southern Negros.

“The southern part of Negros Occidental has always been recognized as one of the mining districts of the country because of its high potential for mineral resources,” he said. 

“We believe that Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez and other public officials in the province must have recognized the economic benefits that responsible mining may bring in the province,”   Juguan added.

“The present mining law, R.A. 7942, has stringent provisions in ensuring that mining operations should be done in a responsible manner under the principle of sustainable development.  These are environmental guarantee measures to ensure that the impacts of mining to the environment are fully addressed and mitigated.  

Juguan further stressed that as a mining engineer, he does not believe in the desertification of a province provided mining operations are done in a responsible manner.”

When asked about issues hurled against mining citing past bad experiences, r Juguan said that indeed, in the past, there was an absence of clear-cut provisions in the mining law and its regulations in ensuring that the environmental impacts are addressed in each stage of mining, so as not to cause environmental destruction.

Juguan, however, said that he fully respects the varied opinions on mining as each one has a stake on the environment. He also recognized that these statements are mostly due to fears and apprehensions of perceived effects mining might have on the environment.

He said the government does not want mining accidents and disasters to happen.  It has put in place mechanisms to ensure that mining companies implement the necessary environmental measures in every aspect of mining operations.  

The provisions of the law ensure that responsible mining must absorb most particularly the social, environmental, and technical costs in all phases of mining operations, he added.*

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