TUBA, Benguet – The Philex Mining Corporation recognized the passion of rejected Environment Secretary Regina Lopez to care for the environment and natural resources during her 10 months stay in the department, citing that the rejection of her appointment would not deter her from aggressively pursuing her crusade for the environment.
Engr. Eulalio B. Austin, Jr., Philex president and chief executive officer, said Philex respects the CA ruling to reject the appointment of Lopez during Wednesday’s confirmation hearing but it will still be business as usual for the company.
“We were one of the few mining companies who successfully passed the mining audit. We continue to maintain our adherence to the highest international standards and practices as a responsible miner, not just for ourselves but for our stakeholders dependent on our mining operations,” Austin stressed.
The Philex official pointed out that the company will continually raise the bar of public perception on mining to set the appropriate standards in the industry worthy of emulation by other mining companies operating in other parts of the country.
According to him, the rejection of the appointment of Secretary Lopez should not be used by mining stakeholders to be complacent but it should send a clear signal to them, especially to those who do not follow responsible mining standards, to think twice about their activities.
Austin asserted building the image of the mining industry is important at this point, thus, the Chamber of Mines and the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) must take the lead in this sensitive matter because caring for the environment is the concern of everyone.
He expressed confidence that the government’s plan to lift the standards of the country’s mining industry will be sustained even with a new head of the environment department because mining companies must continue to adhere to existing standards of the industry to guarantee the sustainable protection of the environment in their respective areas of operation.
Philex had been used as a benchmark for responsible mining because of its worthy activities that have been replicated by various mining companies operating in the different parts of the archipelago.
Austin claimed there is a need for mining companies to cooperate with government agencies by complying with the prescribed standards of responsible mining to erase the misconception that mining is detrimental to the state of the environment.
While it is true that mining will result in damage to the environment, he asserted mining companies are mandated to restore to its original state or close to its original state the lands that were damaged by large-scale mining operations.
Austin explained there is a need to strike a balance on the advantages and disadvantages of mining for people to be able to come out with a definite conclusion on whether or not mining is beneficial to the overall growth and development of the country.
By HENT