Secretary Roy Cimatu of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Wednesday that he will support President Rodrigo Duterte’s open-pit mining suspension in the future, reiterating his statement he gave to various news reports since July.
“We will eventually abide by the instruction of the president to stop open-pit mining in the future,” Cimatu said, who spoke with members of the Congress at the recent confirmation hearing yesterday.
Earlier, Duterte extended his support to the open-pit ban limited only to the top nickel ore exporter due to environmental damages and has considered other miners “enough elbow room for eventual change” in places where economic or agricultural productivity can be done.
The open-pit mining suspension is originally commenced by ex-DENR Chief Gina Lopez during her 10-month service in office.
On the same day, the former Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has pledged before the Commission on Appointment (CA) to institute reforms and environment protection programs as the new secretary of the DENR.
“This gives me enough inspiration to carry out the seemingly gargantuan tasks of protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable use of the country’s rich natural resources in the face of climate change and dwindling natural wealth of the nation,” Cimatu said.
“Rest assured that under my watch, the DENR will push for people-centered agenda in pursuit of environmental protection and sustainable development,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Malacañang greeted the CA’s decision and is confident that Cimatu would be able to grant the President’s orders on the development of the country’s natural resources and environmental policies.
Cimatu was appointed by Duterte after Lopez failed to win the congressional confirmation.
