MANILA, Philippines?The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Monday assailed the ?purist? ideas of environmentalists who claimed the mining industry under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had wreaked havoc on the environment.

Director Horacio Ramos, head of the DENR-Mining and Geosciences Bureau, was reacting to assessments by Jesus Nicanor ?Nicky? Perlas III and Clemente Bautista Jr. that Ms Arroyo had failed in the past eight years to deal with environment issues.

In a separate position paper, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines strongly objected to Bautista?s criticism.

?The mining act has very stringent environmental protection measures and they have been complied with,? it said.

?Even in the case of Rapu-Rapu, this was dealt with immediately,? the chamber said, referring to operation of Lafayette Mining in Albay that Bautista had slammed.

?They have paid for their mistakes. Government and even civil society groups in the area monitor operations closely and do not confirm the disappearance of fish catch. This is hearsay.

?Mining activities which are undertaken in the hinterlands have become catalysts to rural development. It is illegal and unlicensed mining that have caused destruction and we enjoin Mr. Bautista and other environmentalists to help the government catch them.?

Different definitions

Ramos said that Perlas had a ?different definition of sustainable development.?

?He wants a purist environment action versus (an action) with economic activity,? Ramos said, pointing out that this was the mindset of a politician. Perlas has announced that he would seek the presidency next year.

?There?s no sustainable development without economic activity. We can?t live in a very pure environment but we die of starvation,? he said.

He said the Arroyo administration had to take the middle ground between the purists and those pushing the mining industry from an ?economic point of view.?

?There?s the extreme left and the extreme right. Government has to take the middle ground... We have obligations to the Filipino people which have to be done in a very responsible way,? he said.

Balancing objectives

Ramos said that since the 1996 Marcopper mining disaster, the government and the mining industry had taken steps to prevent a repeat of this catastrophe.

He said both the government and mining companies had set in place business models that ?balance and integrate economic, social, and environment objectives that aim for sustainable development and not just mining at all cost.?

Ramos said the DENR had also put in place a 24/7 monitoring on all mining activities.

Aside from the environmental compliance certificate, Ramos said the DENR also required mining companies to rehabilitate mine areas as well as follow a clearly defined final land use.

Ramos said that the $2.1-billion mining industry has an existing 600,000 direct and indirect employment. By 2013, it is projected that the industry would be worth $13 billion, he said.

Substantial contributions

In its statement, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines pointed out that the industry was only given impetus by the government in late 2003 and it was only in 2005 when the Supreme Court finally resolved and affirmed the constitutionality of the Mining Act when the industry was resurrected.

Following several investment promotions road shows, the sector has gained investor confidence, making substantial contributions to the economy, it said.

?The prospective entry of San Miguel Corp. into the industry as well as First Pacific indicates that the relatively untapped mining sector holds a lot of promise. With 7.1 billion tons of metallic minerals and 51 billion tons of nonmetallic minerals waiting to be unearthed, downstream processing and manufacturing remains an area of immense potential,? the group said.

The chamber quoted Edgardo Lacson, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as saying that ?the most untapped sector but holds a lot of promise is the mining industry. While investments in this area have long been championed and promoted, issues related to environmental protection and indigenous rights continue to block efforts to make the sector ideal for economic development.?

Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corp. was also reported as saying that ?in the Philippines, the potential of mining is so huge because we have a good deposit of gold, nickel and iron ore.?

Critics offer no option

?Mr. Perlas said civil society groups are not against mining per se but are against foreign investors investing venture capital in the industry. We?d like to believe this but what they say and do all point against the development of the mining industry,? the chamber said.

?They want government to recognize local resolutions on mining bans and moratorium against mining even if these are contrary to national laws and policies. We will salute them if they can stop illegal logging, illegal fishing and illegal mining operations.

?If these environmentalists are keen in monitoring environmental concerns, they should have at least mentioned about the environmental laws that have been passed, proclamations on biodiversity and protected areas and other environmental protection measures. What are needed are facts to show how this administration has balanced economics and environmental concerns,? the chamber said.

?Constructive criticisms are good when alternatives or options are being offered. Sad to say, in this case, no alternatives were offered.?