Chamber of Mines: “nothing to fear” over mining audit results

Chamber of Mines: “nothing to fear” over mining audit results

The Chamber of Mines Philippines (COMP) said they “expect no less” from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the agency is set to release the results of the mining audit this week.

“We expect the findings to be fair, anchored on the promise of President Rodrigo Duterte of giving us a clean government. That the audit was done with utmost objectivity and that the findings will be properly transmitted to the respective audited mining companies for them to be able to address the gaps in their operations,” COMP executive vice president Nelia Halcon said.

The COMP expects “fair and objective” results in the government audit on the industry. Halcon is confident that there will be positive results as the Chamber members have long been “practicing responsible mining.”

“We continue to abide by transparency, accountability, and integrity in all that we do,” she said.

“We have nothing to fear,” COMP president Benjamin Philip Romualdez said.

Environment Secretary Regina Lopez said that they would make the announcements on the audit results on Thursday.

Environment Undersecretary Leo Jasareno said that the government hopes to have “a roster of responsible miners” after the audit.

Currently, there 10 mining companies suspended. These are: Citinickel Mines and Development Corp. (CMDC), EMIR Mineral Resources Corp., Mt. Sinai Mining Exploration Corp., Claver Mineral Development Corp., Ore Asia Mining and Development Corp., Berong Nickel, BenguetCorp Nickel Mines, Inc., Eramen Minerals, Inc., LNL Archipelago Minerals, Inc., and Zambales Diversified Metals Corp.