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Created on Saturday, 30 April 2011 21:38
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Published on Saturday, 30 April 2011 21:38
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Written by Lito Dar
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BAGUIO CITY - The big three mining companies operating in Benguet has poured in in about P40.5 Million on various Social Development and Management Programs (SDMP) in 2010 which include health, education, livelihood and infrastructure support programs to the host and neighboring communities, where the mining corporations operate.
In an interview at the ‘PIA Hour’ radio program over station DZWT, Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau-CAR Mine Environment and Safety Division Chief Zards Gacad affirmed that Philex Mining Corporation, Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company and Benguet Corporation had invested in SDMP programs.
The SDMP fund for each mining company is based on the one percent of its Direct Mining and Milling Costs (DMMC), as required under Republic Act No. 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
For this year, mining companies’ even have a bigger SDMP commitment which amounts to P127.9 Million a significant increase from last year’s commitment of P44.5 Million. In addition the unimplemented 2010 SDMP commitment of P4 million shall be carried over for this year.
According Gacad, the increase in this year’s SDMP allotment is attributed to the amendments made to Department Administrative Order No. 2010-13, which mandates an increase from 1% DMMC to 1.5% Operating Costs as allocation to SDMP of mining companies.
To ensure the implementation of the approved SDMP of mining companies, it is being monitored quarterly by MGB-CAR and being subjected to an annual auditing at the MGB Central Office.
Gacad also explained that the government supports a Responsible Mining Industry, as it would surely bring in development to the local communities. Aside from the SDMP, it also provides employment and the excise tax from this mining companies would also be a big help for the local government units involved.
Menawhile, Gacad affirmed that there are about 64 small scale miners associations in the province who have already formed themselves into a federation. This, he said, will be a big help for the government especially to Governor Nestor Fongwan’s present effort to register or legalize and regulate small-scale mining operation in Benguet.
