The Contingent Liability and Rehabilitation Fund Steering Committee, chaired by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director, approved the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP) and Final Mine Rehabilitation and/or Decommissioning Plan (FMR/DP) of several Contractors from July to September 2019.

Pursuant to Sections 169 and 187 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2010-21, Contractors/Permit Holders are required to submit an EPEP and FMR/DP. The EPEP provides the description of the expected impacts of the mine and sets out the life-of-mine environmental protection and enhancement strategies based on best practice in environmental management in mining operation. On the other hand, the FMR/DP is a plan for returning the mine sites and affected areas to viable and, whenever practicable, self-sustaining ecosystems that are compatible with a healthy environment and with human activities.

The Certificate of Approval (COA) for the EPEP and FMR/DP provides certain conditions that the Contractor/Permit Holder should comply. One of the conditions of the COA is for the Contractor/Permit Holder to make an initial cash provision of its Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Fund (FMRDF) within sixty (60) days from the date of the FMR/DP’s approval, as per Section 187-B of DAO No. 2010-21 to ensure that the full cost of the approved FMR/DP is accrued before the end of the operating life of the mine.

From July to September 2019, the Contractors whose EPEP and FMR/DP have been approved were invited to sign the conforme portion of the COA together with the CLRFSC Chair and MGB Acting Director, Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano. The Contractors were strictly reminded of the conditions of the COA, specifically, the establishment and deposition of the FMRDF in a Government depository bank.

The following are the Contractors whose EPEP and FMR/DP were approved and the corresponding dates of COA signing:

The mining contractors are:

JLR Construction and Aggregates, Inc. represented by its President, Ms. Candice Regner-Neri with MGB Acting Director Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano and Engr. Rodolfo L. Velasco, Jr., Chief, Mine Safety, Environment, and Social Development Division (MSESDD)

TMC-Tribal Mining Corporation represented by its President and CEO, Atty. Eumir Ernesto P. Tiamzon with MGB Acting Director Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano and Engr. Rodolfo L. Velasco, Jr., Chief, MSESDD

Republic Cement & Building Materials, Inc. (RCBMI) represented by its President, Mr. Renato C. Sunico and staff of RCBMI Bulacan and Teresa with MGB Acting Director Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano and Engr. Rodolfo L. Velasco, Jr., Chief, MSESDD

Silangan Mindanao Mining Company, Inc. represented by its President, Mr. Eulalio B. Austin, Jr. with MGB Acting Director Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano

Republic Cement & Building Materials, Inc. (RCBMI) represented by its President, Mr. Renato C. Sunico and staff of RCBMI Bulacan and Teresa with MGB Acting Director Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano and Engr. Rodolfo L. Velasco, Jr., Chief, MSESDD