Marcos tasks DENR to bolster regulatory powers on small, large-scale mining

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has tasked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to heighten its regulatory powers on small and large-scale mining.

During his meeting with DENR officials on Tuesday morning, Marcos said improving the regulatory powers would ensure that standards are updated and that mining firms are strictly implementing their respective safety and health programs for their workers.

The President said there is a need to enhance social protection and security for workers in the mining sector. He lamented that some miners do not have proper training or inadequate safety measures.

“Gusto natin ma-legalize ang mga small-scale mining firms kasi madami sa kanila illegal, kaya walang protection ang mga minero. Gusto nating palakasin ang regulatory framework para maka-operate sila ng legal, upang mabigyan ang ating minero ng assistance at protection para sa ligtas nilang pagtatrabaho,” Marcos said.

(We want to legalize small-scale mining firms because a lot of them were illegal, therefore the miners do not have protection. We want to strengthen the regulatory framework so that they can legally operate and we can give our miners assistance and protection.)

"We might be able to access financing, they might be able to access social protection," Marcos added.

"Ang kawawa diyan ‘yung mga miners. They're really not... they have no safety. Ang daming namamatay (many miners die)," Marcos said.

The Office of the Press Secretary said there are bills that the President may certify as urgent, including the amendment to Republic Act No. 7076 to incentivize small-scale mining (SSM) and to provide social assistance and labor protection as well as government assistance programs.

Under RA No. 7076, or the Act Creating A People's Small-Scale Mining Program, SSM pertains to mining activities that rely heavily on manual labor using simple implementations and methods.

The law also defines small-scale mining as an activity that "does not use explosives or heavy mining equipment."

"I think for now the need is for the regulatory capabilities, especially the small scale," the President pointed out," said Marcos. 

The Office of the President said the DENR also reported to Marcos the outcomes of the recently concluded 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Further, the details of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund were presented to Marcos by the Office of Civil Defense, the implementing arm of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News