Intervention in mining controversy a collective decision – Palace official

Malacañang said the intervention implemented on the decision of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez to close and suspend mining operations was a collective decision of President Rodrigo Duterte and his Cabinet.

"President and his Cabinet collectively decided to observe due process with regard to the mining issue," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Department of Finance (DOF) on Thursday.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) revealed last week orders were issued to close and suspend mining companies operating across the country as a result of a months-long audit.

Under "due process," Abella said affected companies will be given the opportunity to "respond or dispute" the audit results.

"Members of the Cabinet have expressed their full support behind President Duterte's decision to observe due process before implementing a directive of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to shut down or suspend 28 mining sites across the country," the statement read.

In a separate text message to GMA News Online, Lopez said due process was heeded during the audit. "I fully support due process and I have followed due process. I can prove it."

Lopez and Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III co-chair the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) which is mandated to oversee reforms to make miners more socially and environmentally responsible, while giving the state a bigger share of mining revenues.

"Dominguez has also expressed concern over the plight of the tens of thousands of workers who would lose their jobs as well as the fiscal health of cities and municipalities hosting mine sites, which are heavily dependent on the taxes and fees paid by mining firms for their revenues," the statement read.

Industry lobby group Chamber of Mines of the Philippines also claimed earlier this week the country stands to lose more than P1 trillion of investments should the DENR proceed with its closure and suspension orders.

But Lopez doubted such claim. “To whatever they invest, most of the net income goes to them. They get a seven-year tax holiday, and at the end of the mine they can sell all their equipment and keep the money ... So how are we benefitting here?” Lopez said.

"Malacañang has swiftly moved to calm fears of massive layo-ffs in communities affected by Lopez's sudden move to close down or suspend mining operations in 10 provinces across the country, after several Cabinet officials expressed concern over the detrimental impact of her decision," the statement read.

Lopez had apparently kept to herself the impact of her decision and from members of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) team that conducted the audit and the panel that reviewed the audit findings, according to the statement, which the DOF said was from Malacañang.

For her part, Social Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo said the Department of Social Welfare and Development will conduct surveys to determine the extent of joblessness that would result from the closure and suspension orders, according to the statement.

While the Department of Labor and Employment has an emergency jobs program, it would only be able to absorb a limited number of workers and only for a limited time, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello, it said.

COMP earlier said that the planned closure of 23 mines and the suspension of five others will affect about 1.2 million people and result in a reduction of 67,000 jobs. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News