http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2006070668593.html
By MELODY M. AGUIBA

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Angelo T. Reyes has restored Horacio C. Ramos as director of the DENR-attached Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in a continuing thrust to strengthen the mining industry.

Effective last July 1, Ramos’s appointment is believed to reinforce the vision of Reyes to intensify enforcement of mining laws which is needed now that government’s 24 priority mining projects are seen to begin operating within the next five years or up to 2010.

Reyes, a former defense secretary, declared earlier his thrust to enforce mining and environment laws. He vowed to implement changes needed to reform government’s mining policies under what he calls a “Mining Authority” that must be established, apparently prompted by the Rapu Rapu cyanide spill.

Ramos, a mining engineer, had been MGB director for almost 10 years and was known to be a pillar of the mining industry until he was taken out of the office in June last year.

The industry has looked up to Ramos for initiating progressive mining policies including the National Minerals Policy (NMP): Responsible Mining through Sustaiinable Development and the Revitalization of the Minerals Industry Program.

The NMP shifted government’s mining policy from tolerance to promotion and which led to the issuance of the Executive Order 270, the national policy on revitalizing the mining sector.
He also led the simplification of procedures in the grant of mining rights and contracts. Under policy reforms embodied in Department Order No. 2003-46, processing time for mining applications was cut by as much as 17 months. This enabled investors to obtain approval of mining rights and contracts in six to seven months.

Ramos completed a BS in Mining Engineering at Mapua Institute of Technology in 1967 and a Master in Mining Engineering at UNSW.

To Ramos is also attributed much for the groundwork for the Supreme Court’s affirmation in December 2004 of the constitutionality of the Mining Act. Ramos is a recipient of the Miner’s Lamp Award, Kapaligiran Award, Benguet Leadership Award for Forestry and Ecology, Eagle Award, Likas Yaman Award, and Outstanding Profession in Mining Engineering.

Other programs he introduced were the establishment of One Stop-Shop Committee for Area Clearances (involving 15-day limit for actions on mining applications), Social Development and Management Program (mining companies commitment to develop its host community), and Geohazard Mapping (identification of natural hazard areas in the Philippines.