President Rodrigo Duterte slammed the mining sector of the country anew following the deadly landslides in a mining town in Itogon, Benguet that killed dozens of small-scale miners over the weekend.
The president’s fresh tirade comes after Environment Roy Cimatu ordered the stoppage of all mining operations in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
In a command conference in the Capitol of La Trinidad Benguet on Monday night, Duterte blamed uncontrollable mining operations in the Cordilleras for the deaths of many small-scale miners.
“That mining thing has really contributed a lot of heartaches for the Filipino people. It is time for us, particularly the DENR, General (Roy) Cimatu, to take a second look seriously now regarding the dangers of open pit mining,” the chief executive said.
Duterte also said he is willing to forgo the P70 billion in revenues from the mining sector than let the country suffer more environmental damage.
“I admit we earn P70 billion a year. If you’re ready to accept that as a profit, let us make it simple for the country. But in the end, how much do you lose in the process.”
The president said he would confront the congress to stop all mining activities in the country, but noted the legislative branch would first have to repeal the Philippine Mining Act.
“One day, I will just have to confront Congress. Sabihin ko talaga sa kanila, we have to close the mining industry or better still, plan a period then give Mother Earth a respite the continued endless digging,” the president said.
In a separate press conference earlier in the day, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said the military and police will send troops to CAR to “effect the stoppage of all mining activities” especially in Itogon.
But Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan appealed to Cimatu to not halt the mining activities of some small-scale miners as long as they do not operate in hazard-prone areas.
The president, meanwhile, agreed with Cimatu’s move to halt all small scale mining operations in the region during the command conference.
Photo courtesy of PCOO
