A pair of agreements had been signed promoting competitiveness, ease of doing business and predictable regulations in the local minerals sector as well as that promoting environmental and human health protection.
The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) has signed a memorandum of understanding putting to work a US-funded technical assistance program worth P280 million. The program is spearheaded by the University of the Philippines Public Administration Foundation.
The partnership helps establish the Philippines as a major global value chain player in the clean energy sector by maximizing the country’s minerals potential and increasing value addition through mineral processing.
Signatories include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Anti-Red Tape Authority, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Finance, United States Agency for International Development’s Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development project and the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines.
“The partnership is a significant boost to PNIA’s industry promotion and development efforts, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of the nickel industry and attract investors by improving ease of doing business and ensuring a predictable regulatory environment,” said Antonio Co, PNIA chairman, in a statement.
PNIA said the outcome of the technical assistance is critical for the Philippines to stand out in Southeast Asia as investors view the region as the emerging green industry hub of the world due to cost advantages.
Co said PNIA members representing almost 50 percent of nickel miners have committed to contribute their technical expertise, best practices and industry experience.
“Aside from Indonesia, the Philippines is the only other country in Southeast Asia with a large untapped nickel supply. This is why the technical assistance came at the right time when we need to accelerate industry development efforts to attract investors and convince them of the viability of the Philippines as a minerals processing and green technology manufacturing destination,” Co said said.
The DENR and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a separate MOU aiming to boost bilateral cooperation for environmental and human health protection.
Under the MOU, the DENR and EPA collaborate in co-creating innovative solutions addressing climate and environmental challenges, strengthen compliance and enforcement of environmental laws and ensure science-informed policies and regulations.
“The DENR recognizes that the US EPA’s scientific and technical expertise will significantly contribute to the department’s keen desire to integrate more science into its work. As the adverse impacts of climate change and environmental degradation continue to impact the most vulnerable of the society, this collaboration will allow us to develop local adaptation and risk reduction strategies and integrate community and ecosystem resilience into green growth pathways,” said DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga.
Loyzaga said the collaboration would develop the capacity of the Environmental Management Bureau in programs involving air and water quality management, solid waste management, marine litter and plastic pollution prevention, as well as implement cumulative impact assessments as all these can mitigate risks to human health and the economy.The MOU will remain in effect for five years, with an option to renew for another five years.
