Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Michael Defensor announced this as he noted ASEAN member-countries formally committed to support such move by recently signing the Ministerial Understanding on ASEAN Cooperation on Minerals.

He said the organization decided to promote environmentally-sound and socially-responsible development of minerals as member-countries already projected increasing demand for such in the industrial, agricultural, high-technology and merchandising sectors.

"ASEAN acknowledged that strong economic growth regionally and globally is fuelling demand for mineral resources in many nations, creating significant incentives and opportunities for its member-countries to market their mineral products," he said after attending the First ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals on August 4 in Malaysia.

He noted natural resources ministers from Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam also attended the meeting.

Authorities noted signing of the document is in line with ASEAN's Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) 2004-2010 which called for enhanced trade and investments in the mineral sectors of member-countries.

They also said VAP called for strengthening of cooperation in the rational and optimal use of mineral resources.

In a report, DENR said ASEAN's new ministerial understanding provides for creation of four major technical working groups (TWGs) to draft the plans, programs other strategies aimed at achieving three goals.

These goals are facilitating and enhancing inter- and intra-ASEAN minerals trade and investments, promoting environmentally-sound and sustainable mineral development as well as strengthening institutional and human capacities in the region's minerals sector.

"The TWGs composed of senior ASEAN officials will formulate such action plans and activities within the year so ASEAN can begin implementing related activities by next year," Defensor said.

He said natural resources ministers who attended the meeting also specified promotion of other areas of cooperation.

These include more exchange of information and best practices, coordination of policies and programs, increased private sector participation in minerals development and better public-private sector collaboration in ASEAN mineral cooperation activities.

Defensor said they also agreed to help foster scientific research and technology transfer in mineral resources development and in geosciences.

To help boost minerals development in the Philippines, DENR likewise reported Defensor already approved 11 mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs) since September 2004 when he assumed the department's top post.

Such agreements covered projects in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Cebu, Zambales, Palawan, Davao Oriental and Negros Occidental.

DENR said eight MPSA holders committed P62.8 million (US$1.1 million) for exploration work and P6.35 million for environmental work.

It said three of the MPSA holders committed a total of P246 million for their three-year work program.

Defensor approved a total of 15 exploration permits (EPs) since October 2004.

Fourteen of the 15 EP holders committed a total budget of P102.1 million for exploration work and P9.43 million for environmental work, the agency said.