There are few pending applications for large-scale mining permit in the Western Visayas because of the “cleansing” program the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has implemented since February last year, Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio said yesterday.

Ignacio said DENR Secretary Ramon Paje has ordered the DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau regional officials to cleanse their regions of all pending and inactive mining applications from January to December last year.

He said about 20,000 large-scale mining permit applications have already been denied. He also said they are strictly following the policy not to issue Environmental Compliance Certificates, or mining pplication permits without the endorsement of local government unit officials.

Meanwhile, Environmental Management Bureau Director, Juan Miguel Cuna, said there is an existing moratorium on the issuance of ECCs issued in April last year.

Cuna said they are still waiting for the guidelines from the Malacañang for small-scale mining before lifting the moratorium.

He said the suspension of the issuance of new mining permits is part of the reforms in the mining sector to enhance the management of the country’s natural resources which is in relation to a directive issued by President Benigno Aquino III.*APN

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