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Biodiversity of living things is more common in the tropics compared to those in the
northern and southern hemisphere. Geological diversity of nonliving things is more
common in the Pacific countries as there are more volcanic and earthquake movements in
the Pacific Rim of Fire than the rest of the planet.
That is why for almost all commodities -- copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, nickel,
bauxite, zinc, lead, etc. -- countries in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
are the dominant suppliers and exporters. Volcanic gases and molten rocks are the
main producers of mineral products below the ground.
There is a good study on the mineral potentials of APEC economies published more
than two years ago. Some definitions of the terms used in the table below:
1. Mineral rent is the difference between the value of production for a stock of
minerals at world prices and their total costs of production.
1. Countries on the ring side of the Pacific Rim generally have higher MCI --
Australia, Chile, Papua New Guinea, Peru -- than those a bit far from the Rim. Thus,
while China has the biggest mining rent in 2013, it has low MCI.
2. The Philippines low mining rent and output is mainly a result of the policy and
taxation environment that is generally not attractive to more big corporate mining
but the country has high MCI. It is the worlds 2nd biggest producer of nickel, next
only to Indonesia.
Recently, DENR Secretary Gina Lopez has launched a series of lectures and public
fora advocating more investments in biodiversity than in mining. This is after she
ordered the closure of 22 mines and suspended five others, and ordered a P2-million
bond by mining companies per hectare of disturbed agricultural lands before they
can haul their mineral stockpiles.
The Secretary has not produced any realistic numbers of biodiversity investments
while the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (CoMP) has projected at least $30
billion of big mining investments in the next 10 years if the policy environment has
improved and stabilized.
The government should optimize the high mining potential of the Philippines -- to
create more jobs, generate more exports and economic output, give more
community projects that mining companies are mandated to provide.
Big government presence in mining is justified only in laying down rules that apply
to all, big and small-scale miners. Big mining companies in particular are expected
to strictly follow existing rules especially those provided by the Mining Act of 1995.
Beyond that, there should be less government interventions and taxation, there
should be less political harassment and business uncertainty, especially with many
mining closures and suspensions.
Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the head of Minimal Government Thinkers and a SEANET
Fellow.