DENR chief on closed mine sites: Communities happy, miners worried 

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Saturday claimed that communities in the affected areas were pleased with her decision to close and suspend more than 20 mining operations.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Lopez also assured those who would be losing their jobs due to the closures would be assisted by the government through livelihood programs.

"'Yung  komunidad haping-happy sila, but siyempre 'yung nagtatrabaho sa mina worried sila and then 'yung mga ekonomiya na nagdedepende sa mina worried sila," Lopez said 

"So sa kanila gusto kong sabihin hindi ko kayo iiwanan kasi ito ay ginagawa para sa inyong lahat," she added.

On Friday, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said that a total of 1.2 million are projected to be affected by the closure of several large-scale mining firms in the country.

Lopez said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be providing alternative livelihood for the affected communities through the promotion of eco-tourism.

"Sinong nagsabi na 'yung kalikasan hindi kayang magbigay ng pera? Pwede kung aalagaan, 'yung green economy, and then you're healthier, you're happier," she noted.

The Environment chief cited the eco-tourism initiatives she advocated such as in Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan and the La Mesa watershed.

"My communities in Puerto Prinsesa makes P30 million a year... My La Mesa watershed makes P43 million a year," Lopez said.

"So we will help the poor to give them alternative... Many people go into mining dahil hindi inalagaan ng pamahalaan e...if we don't take care of the poor, they'll do what they need to do to survive, so we have to fix it," she added.

On Thursday, Lopez revealed the closures and suspensions of the supposed erring miners as a result of months-long audit on 41 mines aimed at penalizing those that have harmed the environment. — MDM, GMA News