Manila, Philippines – The government has not lifted the moratorium on the issuance of new mining tenements.
Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje stressed this yesterday as he belied reports that insisted that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had already scrapped the ban.
Paje explained the policy has not changed and said it stands until such time that planned reforms in the mining sector are put in place.
DENR wants to process quickly the aging mining applications that had clogged the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for years.
“We have not lifted the moratorium on the processing and issuance of new mining permits. In fact, since I assumed office in July last year, I have not issued a single new mining permit as we are committed to address first the increasing concerns aired by various sectors, including local government units, on the environmental and social impacts of mining,” Paje explained. (Marvyn N. Benaning)