Mining forum draws experts THE 61st year Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) drew in experts from all over the country to talk about the state of mining. The symposium was opened by Baguio Mayor Maurico Domogan followed by presentations pivotal to the mining industry. Patrick Caoile, Phd. from the De La Salle University presented how “The Government can Reduce its Budget Deficit” through the mining industry followed by Mitzi Pollisco’s “The Large Scale Mining’s commitments to the Convention of Biological Diversity.” By Maria Elena Catajan Thursday, November 13, 2014 From government records, Caoile presented P250 billion deficits while private studies show there is a negative foreign direct investment (FDI) in mining, resulting in capital flight and confirms a 1% contribution to GDP for the last 15 years. “EO 79 may have noble intentions but it was done in utmost secrecy and without consultation with people that can help like engineers and scientists, if it tries to please everybody that is a formula for disaster,” Caoile said and advocated for responsible mining. Under EO 79, any proposal on revenue will have to pass through legislation and the taxes would be imposed in lieu of all national and local taxes, except real property tax, value-added tax, capital gains tax, stock transaction tax, documentary stamp tax, Securities and Exchange Commission fee, donor’s tax, environmental fee, water usage fee, and administration and judicial costs. Adverse Effects of EO 79 count the decrease in FDI and research from the 2014 Mining Congress showed a $12 billion mining investments on hold. Caoile closed stressing the need to revisit and scrap EO79 and the pressing need to continue processing MPSA’s, FTAA’s, EXPA’s “This is the formula to improve and lower the budget deficit without reducing government expenditures and not increasing and introducing new taxes,” he stressed. The symposium also gave way for the Philippine Technological Council on “Alignment, Recognition and Mobility,” followed by Melvin Alonzo from the Rapu Rapu Polymetallic Project speaking on “Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning of the Rapu Rapu Polymetallic Project.” Morning sessions were closed by Patrica Bunye of the Diwata Organization presenting the project “Tanging Tanglaw: Turining IP grandmothers into Solar Engineers.” Afternoon session comprised of Arnulfo Santiago of the Lnl Archipelago Minerals, Inc. on “Geotechnical Hazards: Instituting Enhanced Risk Analysis and Standard Safety Practices in Mining,” followed by Maria Kristine Zuluaga from Le Price Philippines on “Economics of Workplace Safety.” Ateneo De Manila’s Teresa Perez,Phd., spoke on “Program for Rehabilitation and Restoration of Mined Out Areas through Phytotechnologies.” Patrick Anthony Calalo of the Univeristy of the Philippines Los Banos presented “Indicators of Mine Site Rehabilitation Success in HInatuan Island, Surigao Del Norte,” followed by George Banez, also from the De La Salle University to present the “Search for plant species that can indicate the presence of Metals in Soils.” Hermann Kale form the Jetpro Technology presented “Nickel Mining: A case study on Remediation of Nickel Siltation in Mine Sites” while closing the symposium was Chun Yi Wu of the National Sun Yat Sen University with “Using a Constructed Wetland for Non Point Source Pollution Control and River Water Quality.”
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:19:36 +0000
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