MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine government has committed to further strengthen security forces over so-called critical mining areas, as it urged companies to put up “civilian auxiliary groups” to protect their mineral tenements.

“The security of mining operations should be a common responsibility of mining firms, the government and local communities,” said National Defense Secretary Gilbert C. Teodoro Jr. at the 8th Asia Pacific Mining Conference and 2nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals.

“We are thus enjoining all companies to take legitimate steps to protect their claims,” Teodoro said.

On top of employing their own security forces for their respective mines, Teodoro said private mining companies should create civilian auxiliary groups by forging an agreement with the Philippine National Police.

Teodoro explained that the civilian auxiliary group will still be trained and supervised at all times by Philippine military forces. The CAG will be allowed a certain size, depending on the threat level and terrain.

He likewise called on companies to not give in to extortion activities of lawless rebel groups.

“We call on all who are being extorted to stop paying. Every P20 in extortion money you pay has the potential of purchasing a bullet,” he said.

While there are no reports from specific companies, Teodoro said that some rebel groups have demanded as much as P10 million a month from mining firms.

Such incidents of attacks and extortion have not only caused a degree of concern, according to Teodoro, but have also dampened investor confidence.

“We have a clear mandate to support national development and economic activities ... [and] destroy armed threat groups soonest and most decisively within the bounds of the rule of law,” he stressed.

For its part, the government is set to increase security force deployment in the Compostela Valley province, where gold resources are estimated to be worth some P948 billion, according to Teodoro.

He explained that there is a need to augment security troops in certain mining areas due to the low ratio of soldiers to area, as well as the difficulty of the terrain. Some critical areas that the government will initially focus on would include Surigao, Agusan, Abra and Cordillera Area.

On top of such initiative, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is likewise studying the creation of an investment defense force (IDF) to address security concerns on a wider scope, where mining activities are conducted, he said.

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza earlier said the IDF will be tasked to protect, among others, mining firms who had been under attack by rebel groups. This year alone, communists had attacked twice Xstrata Plc’s planned $3-billion Tampakan copper-gold mine in South Cotabato.