Following the closure of small-scale mining operations in the Cordillera Administrative Region due to the death and entrapment of miners at the height of Typhoon Ompong, the Palace said that this move is akin to rehabilitating the mined out areas in the region.
In a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, September 18, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. noted that while there was too much rain during Ompong, man-made factors contributed to the tragedy that befell the miners.
“It’s akin to rehabilitating the mined out areas of Cordillera and it would be an attempt to actually allow the environment to recover because this is actually a result of environmental degradation,” Secretary Roque said.
“I think everyone agrees that while was too much, there’s also man-made contribution to this disaster ‘no,” he added.
With the closure of small-scale mining in CAR, miners who are expected to lose their jobs would be given assistance, which includes 15 days cash for work, following the temporary closure of Boracay.
“Right now, we’re committed to assist everyone na nawalan ng trabaho. In fact, they are at play already. They are discharging their obligations. All they need are the names [of the miners] and automatically be given 15 days of cash for work,” he said.
Secretary Roque said that while it’s vital to protect the environment, the government has also the duty to strike the balance between the protection of the environment and providing the right to livelihood to people.
“So tinanggap naman po ng paghamon ng administrasyon itong nangyari sa Itogon. Mabuti na lang po mayroon tayong model and that is Boracay. So alam na po ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno ang gagawin. It’s very similar to what happened to Boracay,” Roque added.
One of the measures the government is looking into, according to Roque, is giving these miners cash for work, which will come from the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD).
“Ang sabi lang ng DSWD, ang gusto niya ang gagawin ng mga babayaran ng cash for work ay magtatanim ng gulay o kaya magtatanim ng puno na nakaka-absorb ng tubig. ‘Yun ‘yung preference,” Roque said.
‘PH economy remains thriving — reports’
In the same press briefing, Spokesperson Roque also relayed the good news from international bodies that the Philippine economy continues to thrive.
McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), Mckinsey’s business and research arm, cited teh domestic economy as “very recent accelerator” while Fitch Ratings said country’s growth outlook remains “favorable.”
“MGI noted that the Philippines’ rapid economic growth would make the country an “outperformer” country in the coming years,” Roque said.
“In its report for the third quarter, Fitch noted that the Philippine economy will sustain its good performance for 2018 on the back of increases in private consumption and investment,” Roque added. (PCO- Content)
