For some years now, some non-government organizations and leaders of the church launched a nationwide anti-mining stance that is anchored on environmental, biodiversity and nationalistic issues. They have accused the mining industry of displacing people and causing damage to environment and biodiversity through siltation of rivers, dumping of toxic effluents and cutting of trees. Industry responded to these accusations of being false impressions and misstatements because of the lack of an acceptable objective explanation and the absence of a scientific basis to support their accusations. To the uninformed stakeholders, particularly local governments and communities, these assertions have created unfounded fear and insecurity over project areas proposed for exploration and mining. This situation was compounded by some unbalanced views and reporting of some editors and news writers in the mass media who have capitalized on these conflicts raising further confusion and sometimes, disinformation to the public.

Industry needs to demonstrate its genuine concern to the development of communities and local governments. With the introduction of best practices in the mining industry and an extensive information, education and communication campaign, the accusations of non-government organizations with anti-mining sentiments is expected to wane down.

B. Low Level of Investor Confidence

There was so much interest shown by mining investors prior to and during the early years of the Mining Act of 1995. However, several economic events, primarily the filing of the case in the Supreme Court against the constitutionality of granting mining rights to foreign-owned corporations, the inconsistent views in the interpretation of laws, the alleged convoluted bureaucratic procedures in processing of permits, and other related factors have resulted to low investments of Philippine mining. The uncertainties created by these events have caused an unfavorable impact to foreign investments in the country.

This attitude is expected to change starting the year 2005 after Supreme Court, in November 30, 2004, decided to uphold the constitutionality of the Mining Act, particularly its provisions relating to the participation of foreign-owned corporation in mining investments. With aggressive promotion and revitalization of the minerals industry, investors with previous investments are expected to come back and new ones will be invited to invest in the Philippine mining.

With the shift in policy of “tolerance to promotion of mining” the President opened the doors for the revitalization of mining in the Philippines. Government is working on a Minerals Action Plan to achieve the strategic goals of the country towards a revitalized minerals industry. Significant policy reforms had been introduced by government to further streamline procedures and reduce the processing time for mining applications. A Mining Investment Assistance Center (MIAC) was jointly established by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Trade and Industry to serve as an advisory, information and referral center for mining investors. The MIAC office is housed at the ground floor of the main building of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.