Environmental Impact Assessment EIA in the Philippines Roads

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in the Philippines: Roads Taken, Lessons Learned for Mining Projects By: Catalon, Ma. Lourdes Nanette D. and Manaog, Melanie D. 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea June 2007

Map of Southeast Asia 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Areas in the Philippines with Potential for Metallic Mineralization 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Didipio Gold Copper Project Masbate Gold Project RTNMC HPP Line 1 CBNC HPP Line 2 Areas in the Philippines with Potential for Metallic Mineralization 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Mineral Wealth of the Philippines: v Top 10 producer of copper, chromite, gold and nickel in the world; v 30% of total land area or 10 M hectares has mineral deposits; v 7 B metric tons or metallic reserves gold, copper, nickel, chromite; Ø Gold - 1 B tons reserves Ø Copper - 5 B tons reserves 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Contribution of the Mining Industry to the Philippine Economy (2003): v Production value: P 41. 5 Billion v Value-Added Contribution: P 17. 9 Billion or 1. 5 % of Philippine GDP v Exports: US$638 million or 1. 8 % of total Philippine Exports v Approved FDI in mining: P 855 Million 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Contribution of the Mining Industry to the Philippine Economy (2003): v Employment: 104, 000 v Wages and benefits: P 4 to 5 Billion v Taxes and fees: P 2 Billion v Multiplier effect: For each mining job, 4 to 10 allied jobs created upstream and downstream 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Regulations Covering Mining Projects in the Philippines: v PD 1151 - Philippine Environmental Policy; v PD 1586 - Philippine EIS System; v RA 7942 - Philippine Mining Act v EO 270 - Minerals Action Plan 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

The EIA Process in the Philippines: 1. Scoping Process 2. EIA Study 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

The EIA Process in the Philippines: 3. Review Process 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Other Regulations Covering Development Projects in the Philippines: v RA 8749 - Clean Air Act v RA 9275 - Clean Water Act v RA 6969 - An Act to Control Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes v RA 9003 - Ecological Solid Waste Management Act v RA 8371 - Indigenous Peoples Republic Act 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation – HPP Line 1 v 1996 EIA for the 990 ha MPSA Application v 2000 EIA for the HPP Line 1 v Located in the Province of Palawan; need to secure PCSD Clearance v Underwent 2 separate EIS Reviews STACK ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR BOILER STEAM TURBINE GENERATOR 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation – HPP Line 1 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Coral Bay Nickel Corporation – HPP Line 2 v 2006 EIA for the new facilities to double capacity of Line 1 v Required to submit an Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan (EPRMP) v Emphasis on the socio-economic impacts of the project during the review v Less than one month processing time 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Coral Bay Nickel Corporation – HPP Line 2 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Coral Bay Nickel Corporation – HPP Line 2 Safety Orientation with REVCOM Site Visits Water Quality Monitoring IEC Activities 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Oceana. Gold - Didipio Gold/Copper Mining Project v 1994 EIA and amendments in 1999 and 2004 v One of the 2 mining projects awarded with a FTAA v Conducted a 5 -year social preparation program including IEC and Soc. Dev Programs 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Oceana. Gold - Didipio Gold/Copper Mining Project 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Filminera Resources Corp. - Masbate Gold Project v 1997 EIA to reopen gold mine under the ACMDC v Old operations did not undergo the EIA process v 90% social acceptability v Fast EIA Review and Processing (2 months) 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Filminera Resources Corp. - Masbate Gold Project Archaeological Assessment Team briefing with LGU 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Lessons Learned: v Identify who the actual stakeholders are v Increase awareness of stakeholders and transparency of project proponents. v Process document all activities v Best practice environmental practices and social development programs v Community Relations 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Lessons Learned: Identify who the actual stakeholders are v Recognize the cultural distinctiveness of each identified stakeholder group v Consider IPs’ cultural uniqueness and their precarious situation v Identify stakeholders’ concerns – their apprehensions, their perception, and their fears 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Lessons Learned: Increase awareness of stakeholders and transparency of project proponents v Initiate periodic Information, Education, and Communications (IEC) activities v Generate high level of awareness among various stakeholders 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Lessons Learned: Process document all activities v IEC, consultations, agreements reached v permanent record which could be used for continuity of discussion with various stakeholders 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Lessons Learned: Best practice environmental practices and social development program v Consider & select design, location and development of (project) components that reduce environmental consequences; v Considerable investment on pollution control facilities, environmental management and monitoring programs; Ø EPEP Ø CLRF v Social development programs that are responsive to communities’ needs and which consider local participation and the assimilative or absorptive capacity of local communities 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Lessons Learned: Community Relations v Seek and maintain healthy relations with host communities & local authorities to ensure coordination v Need to coordinate with affected IP groups & those considered “minority” groups (if any); v Information, Education and Communications (IEC) activities; v Community Relations Office 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Conclusion: v Development projects result in changes in the environment and lives and culture of peoples where these are located; v Need for management of impacts to the environment and preparation of project receptors or stakeholders to changes; v In the Philippines, legal framework is in place; v Need for Project owners to understand dynamics involved when proposing mining projects and implement bestpractice mining. 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007

Maraming Salamat! Mabuhay Maria Nanette Lourdes D. Catalon & Melanie D. Manaog Gaia South, Inc. 7 F Montepino Bldg, Adelandato Cor. Gamboa Sts Legaspi Village 1229 Makati City Philippines Tel. No: +632 8935661 Fax No. : +632 8935657 Email: gaia@info. com. ph cdn 3303@yahoo. com melaniemanaog@yahoo. com 27 th IAIA Annual Conference, Seoul, Korea, June 2007