Pacquiao would regulate issuance of mining permits

Should he win the highest position in the government, Sen. Manny Pacquiao will regulate the issuance of new mining permits to protect the environment.

“Kokontrolin natin. For example, ang dami nang permit diyan, tapos mag-i-issue ka pa ulit, eh masisira talaga ang kalikasan. Kailangan nakatutok ang ating gobyerno,” Pacquiao said in a one-on-one interview with talk show host Boy Abunda.

Pacquiao was referring to Executive Order No. 130, which Pres. Rodrigo Duterte signed in April last year, lifting the nine-year moratorium for new mining permits with the objective of economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Come December, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources lifted the four-year ban on open-pit mining – something Pacquiao finds worrisome.

“Delikado po talaga ‘yan. Kailangan talaga ng pag-supervise ng gobyerno na titingnan mabuti kung dapat may open-pit mining ba dito,” he said, referring to locations of mining sites that have residents living within or nearby.

While the eight-division boxing champion said that he is not totally against open-pit mining, he said “responsible mining” should be practiced at all times.

“Okay naman ‘yun, basta ‘responsible’ at hindi ka nakakasira ng kalikasan,” Pacquiao said. “Kailangan responsible na hindi [naman maapektuhan ang] mga tao.”

Screengrab from The Boy Abunda Talk Channel.