direction

Posted on July 30, 2012 11:11:10 PM

Palace vows to study appeal on Tampakan

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This, I would hope? will decide the direction of Tampakan and IF/WHEN it proceeds. But at least its back in the palace, where the decision should be made. Logic tells me it goes through, but will it prevail for once in PH

MALACA?‘ANG said yesterday that it will still study Sagittarius Mines, Inc.’s (SMI) appeal for the reconsideration of a rejected environmental permit for the $5.9-billion Tampakan copper-gold project.


“[SMI’s] notice of appeal was submitted last Friday... The Office of the President through its legal team will study the matter,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing at the Palace.

He did not commit to a timetable, saying existing rules and laws, including the recently signed Executive Order (EO) 79, clarifying the country’s mining policies, will be considered in rendering of the decision.

He added that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has yet to transmit the entire records of the case for study. “That will be up to the Office of the President to look into the substance and the legal issues as well as the rules and laws and executive orders surrounding issues on mining. So I think it would be safe to say that the Office of the President will also consider the EO on mining as part of the rules governing mining,” he said.

The spokesman did not comment if the EO will guarantee a favorable decision for SMI, but Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus P. Paje last week said the Palace directive aims to harmonize existing national and local laws.

Under EO 79, the Department of Interior and Local Government could talk to local government units to discuss existing issues, including SMI’s appeal to operate the Tampakan project. SMI’s appeal was escalated to Malacanang after the Environment department in May upheld its January decision to reject the firm’s permit for the Tampakan project. DENR cited a ban on open pit mining declared by the local government of South Cotabato. -- N. M. Gonzales