House awaits Senate action on mining-free zones

At least eight proposed legislation on mining-free zones have been pending before the Senate since last year after these were passed and transmitted by the House of Representatives.

The bills seek to prohibit mining in certain cities and provinces with some exceptions.

“Mining has been statistically proven to be one of the most environmentally destructive industries,” the authors of the various bills in the House have collectively said.

The bills are House Bill 45 by Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Rep. Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. for Cagayan De Oro City; HB 5262 by Rep. Isidro T. Ungab for Davao City;   HB 670 by Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento for Catanduanes; HB 3667 by Deputy Speaker Carlos M. Padilla for Nueva Vizcaya; HB 3780 by Rep. Ben P. Evardone for Eastern Samar; HB 4363 of Rep. Deogracias B. Ramos, Jr. for the second district of Sorsogon; HB5260 by Rep. Joseph Gilbert F. Violago for Nueva Ecija; and HB 5261 by Rep. Rogelio J. Espina, M.D. for Biliran.

The bills were sponsored at the plenary by the committee on natural resources chair Rep. Francisco T. Matugas (Surigao Del Norte) and endorsed to the Senate as early as 2014.

In seeking a ban on mining in their constituencies, the authors said in the bills that the Constitution mandates them “to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.”

“Mining has adverse effects both to humans and the environment. Aside from adding toxic chemicals to the ore, it strips-off large areas of top soil of all flora and fauna,” their bills said.

The solons also cited the other adverse effects of mining such as displacement of communities, landslides, polluted water sources, the greenhouse effect, and climate change, among others.

The bills seek to penalize violators with six to 12 years imprisonment and/or fines ranging from P100,000 to P500,000.

But under the bill, mining may be allowed if the quarrying of gravel and sand for projects are undertaken by government agencies or local governments when national interest requires it.

Another exception is if there is a need to determine the presence and availability of strategic raw materials for industries critical to national development or for scientific, cultural or ecological value.

Mining under the bills is defined as the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth.

The bills’ definition of mining activities include exploration, feasibility, development, utilization and processing and large-scale quarry operations involving cement raw materials, marble, granite, sand and gravel construction aggregates.