Miners’ group says Gina Lopez has no plan to address effects of mines’ closure

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines on Thursday asked the Commission on Appointments (CA) to reject the nomination of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, citing the financial consequences of her decision to close more than 20 mining operations.

Ronald Recidoro, the mining group’s vice president for legal and policy, said Lopez is “unfit” and “unqualified” to lead the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“It appears she has no real plan to address the impact [of the closure] other than the promise of ‘real economy’ that will take years to implement,” Recidoro said.

“People need jobs today, not years from now, today," he added.

Recidoro said the closure order on 23 mining operations will impact 1.2 million jobs.

He also pointed out that mining accounts for 25 percent of the regional gross domestic product (GDP) of Mimaropa and Caraga, and pays P800 million in annual taxes to government units hosting large-scale operations.

“Given the magnitude of these liabilities, we ask, did she really think these closures through?” he said.

Recidoro further cited the cost of P50 million granted to the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), which has been tasked to review Lopez’s closure orer.

“That’s money that could have been spent for food or medicine for the poor, instead of cleaning up this mess,” he said.

“Her extreme ideology and environmental fanaticism will only cause a mess that will hurt many and benefit no one,” Recidoro said.

Lopez said the fact remains that the 23 operations violated the law.

“There were violations, rivers were silted, farm lands affected and thousands of farmers and fishermen affected. No matter how many times I say this, they come up with the same arguments,” the Cabinet official said. —NB, GMA News