‘We take care of open pits’

Manila Mining Corp. (MMC) said it had been taking care of its open pit mines in Placer, Surigao del Norte, contrary to Environment Secretary Gina Lopez’s assertions during her confirmation hearing.

MMC took exception to the following statement of Lopez on MMC’s operations before the Commission on Appointments on March 8: “You know the price of gold went down so they suspended it, but they haven’t been taking care of it and they don’t even have the funds there to rehab it and my staff tells me that it is not acidic but it’s full of copper. Nevertheless, it’s a danger to the area.”

“It is not true that MMC has not been taking care of its open pits. We properly maintain our facilities on site to ensure that they do not harm the environment,” Manila Mining said in a statement on Sunday.

“The open pits referred by Secretary Lopez contain ore and are programmed for mining prior to rehabilitation. Adjacent areas, as the pictures indicate, are heavily forested and rehabilitated,” it added.

The company also denied Lopez’s claim that the water in its mine pits was heavily polluted, citing a report by Environmental Management Bureau-Caraga showing that “the water in the pits and the sea water adjoining the mine site had pH levels within standards” of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Manila Mining also contradicted Lopez’s claim that it did not have stand-by funds to rehabilitate the affected lands. MMC said its mine rehabilitation funds had been deposited with a government bank since 1998.

Last month, Lopez ordered 23 mining operations closed and five others suspended for failing to meet environmental standards. She also canceled 75 mining contracts called mineral production sharing agreements.

Her decision is under review by a Cabinet-level body cochaired by Lopez and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.

Eleven mines meanwhile passed the DENR audit.