PHILIPPINES TO REHABILITATE INACTIVE AND ABANDONED MINES.

MANILA, Feb 10 Asia Pulse - Some 22 abandoned and inactive mines spread all over the country will undergo rehabilitation once identified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Environment Secretary Elisea Gozun Monday said that this is an effort to restore the natural environment in mined-out areas and turn them into productive assets of the government, thus, providing thousands of employment opportunities in the countryside.

Gozun also said that before the rehabilitation of the mines, the local goverment units concerned will be consulted to determine the land use they prefer for the area. The government will also help the LGUs find a funding agency to finance the rehabilitation.

Records revealed that the mining companies have either discontinued or temporarily shut down their operations in the 60s-80s due to low metal price, labor disputes and technical problems.

"Since these mining companies shut down their operations about 40 years ago, their rehabilitation has not been undertaken as provided by the Mining Act of 1995," Gozun said.

The Mining Act also provides that mining operators shall establish and maintain a Mine Rehabilitation Fund to ensure availability of funds to finance their respective rehabilitation processes.

Gozun said the consultancy group of Tetra Tech Em Inc., has been commissioned to undertake a study to determine the environmental condition of the abandoned mines by ...