Empowerment is an important step if we truly want, as a
nation, to fully embrace the benefits of a strong, intelligent and
responsible small-scale mining sector. South Cotabato, for example, has a
program called Minahang Bayanihan, which addresses various issues
concerning the province’s small-scale mining industry, including health
and sanitation, economic security and sharing scheme, etc.
As a result, South Cotabato topped Region 12’s revenue
collection in 2013 after it generated P11.5 million from small-scale
mining fees, according to a 2014 report from the Mines and Geosciences
Bureau.
Most importantly, formalizing the industry will
subject the small-scale miners to better government oversight and thus
help address recurring issues such as mercury-use, child labor and
occupational safety, among other concerns. Regulating the industry will
also address the worsening environmental degradation in small-scale
mining areas.
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