Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Thursday has issued an administrative order banning all prospective open-pit mines in the country.
Lopez said the total ban, contained in DENR Administrative Order No. 2017-10, shall cover "open-pit method of mining for copper, gold, silver and complex ores."
She, however, clarified that quarrying will not be covered by the ban as such method of extraction would only be regulated.
A quarry is an open-pit mine that produces building materials and dimension stones, such as granite, marble and limestone, among others.
Lopez said the destructive nature and its potential for a disaster were the main reasons why she decided to impose a ban on open-pit mining.
According to the environment chief, open-pit mining is a financial liability, poses risks to host communities, and kills the economic potential of the community.
"I'd rather put a policy to ban it (open-pit mining) now that we do not have the technology for it yet," Lopez told a press conference.
Lopez also noted that most mining disasters in the country were due to the tailings spills associated with open-pit mining.
The history of Philippine mining, she added, would show that most open pits have ended up as "perpetual liabilities," causing adverse effects to the environment because of the level of acidity in those areas.
Under the order, mining contractors who have not commenced commercial operation but have approved Declarations of Mining Project Feasibility for open pit mining are given a period of six months to review their planned mining methods.
"The order is also for providing water quality standards in open pits. At any point in time, the acidic water will never be allowed because it poses risk to the communities nearby," Lopez pointed out. ###
Secretary Gina Lopez on Thursday announced numerous reforms to make the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) more effective in fulfilling its mandate as the leading government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country's environment and natural resources.
Lopez said that upon their effectivity and implementation, the reforms would make DENR programs and services more efficient and accessible to the people, and consistent with her principles on providing social justice.
The reforms would cover policies related to forest, land, protected area (PA), and environmental management, she said.
Proposed priority policies under land management were presented as Lopez commits to make land titling service easier, more accessible and transparent to the public.
Strategies include allowing barangay offices to accept public land titling applications; providing barangays with cadastral maps with ongoing titling operations; and posting of process flow for titling, with corresponding requirements and fees.
Beneficiaries of free, homestead and sales patents can also expect soon support on managing their land from the Land Management Bureau and the DENR’s corporate arm, the Natural Resources Development Corporation.
Among others, title holders can expect assistance in coordinating with other appropriate government offices on land development, payment of taxes and other fees, and land preservation for climate change resiliency.
The LMB has drafted guidelines regarding non-requirement of tax declaration in filing, accepting, and processing of agricultural and residential free patent applications, in lieu of which actual land occupants can present other applicable proof.
The DENR is also strategizing to maximize benefits from PAs through a special use agreement or SAPA.
The Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), which oversees PA management in the country, has proposed the imposition of development fees based on zonal value of PAs and any improvements therein. Further, the proponent shall pay an administrative fee for every SAPA application filed.
Income from SAPA fees will be accrued to the Integrated PA Fund, which could increase income to be utilized for improving PA management and operations while decreasing subsidy from the national government.
The agency is eyeing a partnership with the Department of Agriculture in mainstreaming biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices in and around PAs. The move is expected to address issues such as unregulated conversion of PAs to agricultural lands, and demonstrate how the environmental, social, and economic components of social development can be harmonized.
The DENR has also identified several areas of improvement to protect and conserve the country’s watersheds for survival.
It launched a control map as a standard for the use of the country’s environment and natural resources (ENR), and to promote evidence-based planning and decision making.
The map integrates all spatial information collected and produced by agency on forestland, protected areas, and mining tenements.
It would contribute to a better prioritization of the agency’s programs and projects, ensure equitable allocation of resources, and aid in disaster risk reduction, mitigation and adaptation.
In a bid to promote a green economy, the DENR is establishing the Philippine Forest Certification System or PFCS which adopts a standard labelling system to ensure that all wood products come from legal and sustainably-managed forests.
Lopez said that the PFCS would result to “healthier forests, communities and workers” and help prevent illegal wood harvesting or logging while promoting employment that is “compliant with all fundamental International Labor Organization conventions.”
The DENR’s Forest Management Bureau (FMB) is also aiming to streamline wood processing plant permits by extending their validity from three to five years. The scheme is expected to attract more investors, provide less transaction costs, improve security of tenure, and help meet the domestic demand for wood-based products.
In an effort to improve air quality in Metro Manila, the DENR will designate EDSA in Metro Manila as a non-attainment area for exceeding pollution standards.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is set to revise emission standards for criteria pollutants, specifically sulfur oxide (SO2), from source-specific air pollutants to promote a safer, cleaner and healthier environment.
The standard will be lowered to 400 milligrams per normal cubic meter (mg/Ncm), compared to 1,500 mg/Ncm standard prior to the implementation of Republic Act 8749, also known as the Clean Air Act.
SO2 has been found to be one of the leading causes of respiratory diseases. The standards have been patterned to international health standards.
The DENR will also make use of technology to promote transparency and accountability.
One of these is with the launch later this month of Environmentor, a mobile application that will easily show the user the location of forestlands, ancestral domains, mining tenements, flood-prone areas, fault lines, and PAs.
The EMB will implement online submission of monitoring data as a strategy in “bringing quality service to our people” by providing an adequate and timely feedback mechanism.
The bureau also announced that it now requires a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) for proponents of sand and gravel projects securing an environmental compliance certificate or ECC.
Finally, Lopez vowed to enhance public participation in the various stages of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) system or from its onset to the evaluation stage. ###
Environment Secretary Gina Lopez has called on fellow environment advocates to guard against any attempt to derail the country's shift to a developmental path compatible with "green economy," which would eliminate socially and environmentally destructive practices such as irresponsible mining.
During the Earth Day celebration held at the La Mesa Eco Park last Saturday, Lopez said it is time for environmental activists and groups to close ranks and "create an energetic vessel" that would drive the country towards economic and political growth that do not lead to environmental destruction.
"Mining and big business control politics. That's the reality that exists and that's why there is so much suffering," said Lopez, who earlier this year ordered the closure of 22 mines and suspension of four others due to serious environmental violations.
She added: "But I know the power of number can overcome these forces. And if that number is infused with love and truth, we are invincible."
Last month, Lopez announced that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is now ready to lead government efforts toward a shift to a green economy that values and protects the natural environment, and provides well-paying and decent jobs to local communities.
This developed as she signed an administrative order that contains the guidelines for just transition of the DENR's programs and projects to "green economy models" or GEMS where community members create sustainable goods and services for the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems.
Lopez, a long-time advocate for the environment, believes that shifting to green economy will create opportunities for inclusive growth, job creation and poverty reduction. ###
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently developed a framework for assessing social and economic impacts of protected areas to ensure that ongoing conservation efforts are effective, and contribute to human well-being and poverty reduction.
The DENR, through its Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), came up with a set of guidelines on Socio-Economic Assessment and Monitoring System (SEAMS) designed to gather data or information that will serve as basis for monitoring the benefits of protected areas to local communities, especially the indigenous peoples (IPs).
BMB Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim said the system will serve as a standard method that will be used by protected area superintendents and other field implementers in assessing and monitoring the socio-economic condition of occupants in protected areas.
She also said that data and information gathered using the SEAMS shall be useful in planning and determining the appropriate management interventions that will provide improvements in the lives of the communities within and around protected areas, at the same time ensure the conservation of the important biological resources that make the protected area valuable to everyone.
Aside from the socio-economic study, the SEAMS project also seeks to locate sources and values of various ecosystems, and determine the degree of degradation or improvement in ecosystem services, uses and values, and identify the ecosystem pressures and threats, including their causes.
A multi-sectoral team will be created in each region to oversee the implementation of the SEAMS project, according to her.
Each team, to be created by the concerned DENR regional director, will be composed of the chief of the conservation and development division; the environment and natural resources officers from the provincial and community levels; representatives from the city, municipal and barangay governments; civil society organizations; and people's organizations.
The teams are expected to come up with an assessment report to be submitted to the BMB, which will then consolidate them as inputs to the State of Protected Area Report. ###
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), together with Earth Day Network Inc. (EDNP), takes the lead in this year's celebration of Earth Day with the theme, "Environmental and Climate Literacy."
The whole day activity scheduled at the La Mesa Eco-Park in Quezon City on April 22 starts off with Sandiwang at 6:30 a.m. at the park's Amphitheater.
Sandiwang is a solemn rite of thanksgiving and worship by diverse religious and cultural groups. It will be marked by prayer and meditation for the healing of the earth.
The interfaith activity will be followed by a message from Environment Secretary Gina Lopez. Other officials expected to deliver messages are Hon. Elizabeth A. Delarmente, councilor and chairperson of the Committee on Parks and Environment of Quezon City, and Mr. Isagani Serrano, president of Earth Day Network Philippines.
The program will be held simultaneously with a series of activities including the PRO Earth Run 2017: Forest Trail Edition, bird watching, tree canopy walk, and on-the spot art session in the same venue.
The morning's activities will coincide with the launch of the Forest Restoration Project at Clark Green City in Capas, Tarlac.
Events continue in the afternoon with exhibits, a tree canopy walk and band performances.
The PUP Bagong Himig Serenata will also render song numbers.
Elen Basug, chief of the Environmental Education and Information Division (EEID) of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), a line agency under the DENR, said that following this year's theme, the DENR has embarked on an intensified information drive to ensure that the Filipino youth, especially the students, are environment-and climate-literate and are “a voice for change.”
The drive also supports Earth Day Network Inc.'s (EDNI) campaign to build a global citizenry fluent in the concepts of climate change and its impacts.
In time for the graduation season, Basug advised college graduates to “take into consideration the environment in whatever career or profession they take.”
She noted that schools today encourage students to put value on the environment.
On April 28, the EMB will sponsor an exhibit and concert for the environment called “Earth Day Jam” at the Rizal Park in Manila. An awareness activity for watershed ecosystems will be held in Angat Dam, Norzagaray, Bulacan on the same day.
The EMB has launched on Monday (April 17) the 2017 Design Contest, "Infographics for the Environment.” The contest, to run until June 1, invites technology enthusiasts to create engaging environmental information – clean air, clean water, solid wastes, climate change, chemicals, lead poisoning, hazardous wastes, ozone layer and environmental education – into a social-friendly message that will appeal to all audiences.
Leading to the Earth Day celebration, the DENR sponsored a coastal clean-up at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area on April 8.
Mangrove tree planting was also held in Calatagan, Batangas on April 18 led by the EMB and the DENR Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service.
Earth Day is celebrated worldwide every year on April 22. It is the single biggest environmental celebration in the world participated in by more than 150 countries and over a billion people. It is held to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 in the United States.
In the Philippines, Earth Day is celebrated by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 2008-1481.