MICC OKs guidelines on ‘objective’ mining review

The Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) has approved the guidelines on the conduct of an “objective, fact-finding, science-based” review of mining operations nationwide, starting with those the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ordered closed or suspended last month.

The MICC which is co-chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, 3rd and DENR Secretary Regina Lopez, also decided in its Friday meeting to complete the review that five interdisciplinary technical review teams (TRTs) will be conducting within three months. The TRTs will focus on the technical, legal, social, environmental and economic aspects of the affected mining operations.