Palawan: Mining in protected areas, including watersheds and wildlife habitats, is strictly prohibited, as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ensures that stringent screening, monitoring, and rehabilitation requirements are enforced and that mineral development complies with laws.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DENR evaluates every proposed mining area before issuing a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Felizardo Cayatoc said during a mine visit to several sites in Palawan on Thursday and Friday. "From the very beginning, upon identification, the DENR looks into whether this could be possible for application for mining production sharing agreement or MPSA," Cayatoc stated during a press briefing.
Cayatoc emphasized that areas like protected areas, watersheds, and wildlife habitats are off-limits for mining activities. He clarified that even within approved mining areas, only certain portions are mined while the rest are reserved for environmental protection and rehabilitation, including activities such as replacement tree planting and earth balling.
He further explained that compliance with environmental regulations extends beyond the commencement of extraction. Mining companies are obliged to rehabilitate mined areas before shifting operations to another section of the approved site. This rehabilitation process involves a detailed plan and is monitored through quarterly inspections by a Multi-Tripartite Monitoring Team comprised of representatives from the DENR, local government units, people's organizations, the academe, and religious groups.
Post-mining, the DENR continues to monitor rehabilitated sites, with companies generally given six years to restore mined-out areas before they are transitioned for long-term management. Companies are required to restore the forest cover removed during mining activities as part of their regulatory obligations under Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act and the Strategic Environmental Plan imposed by the local government in Palawan.
Janice Tupas, mine environmental protection and enhancement manager of Rio Tuba Nickel Corp., explained that rehabilitation includes land recontouring, stabilization, soil replacement, and revegetation using native and endemic tree species. The ultimate goal is to restore biodiversity and the functionality of the area as closely as possible to its previous state.
At Berong Nickel Corp., environmental protection officer Jaypee Dela Cruz described a phased rehabilitation program that spans years after mining operations, with a focus on native tree species. The company has achieved a 97 percent survival rate for planted saplings and has completed roughly 80 percent of its 137-hectare rehabilitation target.
Cayatoc highlighted public understanding as a significant challenge in mining regulation. He noted that while rehabilitation cannot perfectly recreate the original forest, it can restore the land's ecological functions through sustained management.
