By Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency | July 15, 2026 5:20PM

RESPONSIBLE MINING. Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna answers media questions at Kapihan sa Manila Hotel on Wednesday (July 15, 2026). He said responsible mining is possible under stricter regulation and improved monitoring, while encouraging small-scale miners to legalize their operations through a mobile one-stop shop that simplifies permitting and promotes environmentally sound mining practices. (Screengrab from Kapihan sa Manila Hotel Facebook page)

MANILA – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said responsible mining can be practiced in the Philippines under stricter government oversight, while calling on small-scale miners to legalize their operations through reforms that aim to simplify permitting and promote environmentally sound mining practices.

In a media forum in Manila on Wednesday, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said that advances in technology, stronger monitoring mechanisms and closer public scrutiny have changed how mining operations are regulated, making it more difficult for companies to ignore environmental rules.

“At the outset, I’ll tell you responsible mining does exist,” he said.

Cuna stressed that DENR monitoring, through its Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), has become more effective with the use of drones and other technology.

He also mentioned that the widespread reach of social media, combined with civil society and public vigilance, has allowed environmental issues at mine sites to be reported more quickly.

“Una-una may drones, may social media. So tulad ninyo, nakabantay po kayo. Hindi na pupwede yung dating panahon na nasa malalayong, far-flung na lugar ang mga minahan at hindi talaga natin alam kung ano yung pagpapatakbo nila doon. Ngayon anything na pwedeng ipalabas, nag-discoloration yung tubig o kahit ano, nailalabas kaagad (First of all, there are drones, there is social media. So like you, you are keeping watch. It’s no longer feasible for mines in remote, far-flung areas where we really don’t know how they are being operated. Now, anything that can be released, like water discoloration or anything, is immediately reported),” he said.

Cuna added that many of the country’s large-scale mining operations are now run by Filipino companies with reputations to protect, noting that publicly listed firms face regulatory and business consequences if they fail to comply with environmental requirements.

He, however, said the DENR remains concerned about illegal small-scale mining since many miners continue to operate outside declared “minahang bayan” areas due to difficulties in the permitting process.

“It’s actually the small-scale mining operations that we were worried about. So dahil karamihan po sa kanila sa mga lugar na marami pong mga deposit ay iligal. So hindi namu-monitor (So because most of them in areas with many deposits are illegal. So we cannot monitor it),” he said.

Minahang bayan, established under Republic Act 7076, or the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991, is a government-designated zone in the Philippines where small-scale mining can legally operate.

Cuna also cited Executive Order 79 issued in 2012 that institutionalizes reforms in the mining sector, prohibiting mining applications in critical locations.

To address the issue, he said the DENR introduced a mobile one-stop shop Permitting on Wheels, that brings government services directly to mining communities and helps miners process permits and comply with legal requirements.

“Yung ibang mga kababayan natin, siyempre nahihirapan sila sa requirements and even understanding kung anong gagawin. So hindi na lang nila itutuloy tapos mag-i-illegal na lang sila outside ng minahang bayan (Some of our fellow countrymen, of course, find it difficult to meet the requirements and even to understand what to do. So they just won’t continue and will resort to illegal activities outside the mining town),” he said.

The mobile one-stop shop also involves other government agencies, including the Department of Labor and Employment and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, to guide miners on legal gold trading and other requirements.

Cuna said the government is encouraging miners to sell their gold through legal channels.

“You will be paid properly pag sa Central Bank or sa accredited trader ng Central Bank kayo magbebenta, tapos hindi na kayo huhulihin (if you sell to the Central Bank or to an accredited trader of the Central Bank, then you won’t be arrested),” he said.

The program also introduces miners to environmentally sound mining methods, including compliance with the prohibition on mercury use.

Meanwhile, in response to the criticism from Alyansa Tigil Mina, Cuna said the DENR remains open to engaging with groups opposed to mining and even invited them to take part in Multi-Partite Monitoring Teams (MMT) in monitoring mining operations.

“Iginagalang natin ang tanong ng Alyansa Tigil Mina, we have a good working relationship naman with them (We respect the question from Alyansa Tigil Mina, we have a good working relationship with them,” he said.

“Pwede rin sila maging bahagi ng MMT. I mean, just to be transparent about it and sila na mismo ang humusga kung maayos yung pagpapatakbo ng mina o hindi (They can also be part of the MMT. I mean, just to be transparent about it and they themselves can judge whether the mine is being operated properly or not),” he added.

Source: Philippine News Agency

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