Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Tuesday questioned what the government has been doing to improve its share of profit in the mining industry.
It is the second mining disaster to occur in the country in seven months, putting the local mining industry under siege, but investors do not expect a prolonged suspension of operations of Semirara Mining Corp.’s Panian open-pit coal mine in Antique, given that the disaster was “not environmental” in nature.
In a move seen to discourage the entry of more foreign mining companies, the provincial government has enacted an ordinance that will increase taxes on mineral lands starting next year.
The owner of a gold mining company in Camarines Norte was killed while his female companion was wounded when unidentified men sprayed bullets on their vehicle in Calamba City, Laguna, early Thursday.
Abandoned mines and idle lands covered by old American mineral patents must be returned to the public domain and developed into “Minahang Bayan” (public mines) zones for small-scale mining communities, the leader of Benguet’s small-scale miners said on Sunday.
