MANILA – The government has formed an inter-agency committee that would look into illegal small-scale mining activity and gold smuggling, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau said on Tuesday.
“We are not blinking on our drive against illegal mining in the country, particularly the filing of complaints against irresponsible personalities,” Leo Jasareno, MGB director, said.
The committee is composed of the Departments of Interior and Local Government, of Environment and Natural Resources, and of Justice.
On Monday, the inter-agency committee conducted its first meeting presided by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje. The group focused on the need for a judicial inquiry into the growing incidence of illegal small-scale mining operations and the sale of gold in the black market.
In the first six months of the year, the value of the country’s metallic mineral output dropped by 26 percent to P51.2 billion from P69.2 billion a year ago. The government blamed this on the 95 percent decline in the gold purchases of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Jasareno said the substantial drop in BSP’s gold purchases from small-scale miners and traders was a telling factor for the sluggish performance.
He said gold production nosedived to 8,382 kilograms valued at P18.18 billion, from 22,804 kilograms worth P44.52 billion in 2011.
The BSP gold purchases accounted for a measly 786 kilograms as against the 15,003-kilogram contribution a year ago.
“In effect, the BSP gold purchases shared only a dismal 9.37 percent of the entire gold production, compared to 74 percent a year ago,” Jasareno said.
The DENR traced the drop in gold purchases to the second semester of 2011 when the Bureau of Internal Revenue intensified collection of the two percent excise tax and 10 percent creditable withholding tax from the sale of gold by small-scale miners and traders.
The BSP, through its five buying stations in Baguio City, Davao City, Zamboanga City, Naga City and Quezon City, deducts the corresponding taxes from small-scale miners and traders and remits the same to the BIR. –Orti Despuez, InterAksyon.com
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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