The bigger they are, the easier to spot them.

And the more organized an industry, the better to regulate it.

An industry that operates mercenary-style or plies a fly-by-night trade is decidedly more injurious to the public, the public domain, and the national interest.

And so we are gladdened that President Aquino has expressed a disagreement with environmentalists’ calls for a ban on mining in the country, and he was correct in saying such a prohibition would result in the spread of small-scale mining operations that would be difficult to check due to their number.

This developed as the President ordered a panel composed of the country’s top environment officials to craft a mining policy that would ensure the environment is protected while at the same time maximize the industry’s benefits for the country.

“When it’s difficult to regulate, that means, like what happened in Romblon, there will be a substantial amount of mercury that will find its way in our water resources,” P-Noy told reporters following his attendance at the 67th anniversary celebration of the Leyte Landing.

“So the solution really is large-scale (mining) that has the capability to correct the damage to the environment but would avoid damage to begin with,” he added.

The officials, who would craft the policy in consultation with the industry’s stakeholders, are Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Laguna Lake Development Authority Administrator Nereus Acosta, Cimate Change Commissioner Mary Ann Lucille Sering, and Presidential Adviser on Ecological Affairs Elisea Gozun.

“I have tasked (them) to sit down, craft the mining policy that will merge two things at the end,” the President said.

“Number one, we will make sure it is regulated to safeguard the environment, maximize what would go to the government and to the country. Second, preserve our potentials, especially in eco-tourism and really nurture our environment,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines expressed deep sadness over the senseless killing of Fr. Fausto Tentorio even as it “condemns in the strongest terms” this yet another act of violence against a man of God.

However, the CMP slammed some leader of the Catholic Church and anti-mining elements who promptly laid the blame for the killing on the mineral-extraction industry for the murder of the Italian priest.  

In a statement it said:

We strongly criticize some leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and anti-mining groups who were quick to link the entire minerals development industry to this crime. We ask them to exercise duty of care and diligence in their pronouncements, specifically their blanket condemnation of the mining industry. We ask them to be more circumspect and responsible in their statements; they should not take advantage of this incident and make it as another opportunity to denigrate the whole mining industry.

We should all learn from the Dr. Gerry Ortega murder case in Palawan, which some sectors initially blamed on the industry and was subsequently proven wrong. Comments on the Fr. Tentorio case should be reserved until after a thorough investigation by the Department of Justice has been completed. Until then, all statements as to the reason behind this latest criminal act are pure speculation.

We join the call for the Philippine government to act immediately so that those behind the Fr. Tentorio and Dr. Ortega murder cases will be brought to justice.

For the record, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines does not have a member-company in North Cotabato where Fr. Tentorio met his unfortunate fate.

We reiterate our commitment to uphold the human rights of all stakeholders. We are guided buy our core values founded on the fundamental principle of respect for, and protection of human dignity.