“I am against open pit mining. Government should explain proposed lifting of current ban,” former Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez said during a press conference on Monday.
Lopez emphasized the proposal to lift the open-pit mining ban in the Philippines.
“A mining concession is a privilege, not a right. Mining is a privilege given on certain conditions,” she said.
She also told mining companies that there were conditions affiliated with the privilege to do the said activity.
“There are many other ways to use our resources that contribute to social justice. Mining isn’t one of them,” Lopez added.
Moreover, Lopez said she wants to talk with President Rodrigo Duterte regarding the said issue.
“I want to meet the President because I know he’s mabait and he would listen,” she said.
“Tama na. We’ve already suffered a lot, so stop doing this. This is why I’m doing this… This is a violation of the Constitutional rights of the Filipino people,” Lopez stressed.
Last Friday, Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin earlier said that the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) asked DENR to consider lifting the ban which Lopez executed when she was still the Environment Secretary. | Angelica Bobiles – PTV
