Norberto Gonzales vows to stop open-pit mining, explore alternative energy sources

Presidential candidate and former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales on Monday said he will stop the open-pit mining anew and look at alternative sources of energy to help protect the environment.

During the Catholic E-Forum hosted by Radio Veritas, Gonzales pointed out that there are other ways of mining, through use of better technologies, that could not harm the environment.

He then emphasized that while open-pit mining is a controversial issue, people should also look at where the benefits from activities on the country’s natural resources go.

“Ititigil natin ‘yang open-pit mining. Ang sinasabi ko lang, kung titignan natin ang tungkol sa mga yaman na galing sa kalikasan, dapat ilalagay natin ‘yan sa isang sovereign fund para ang kita, kung saka-sakali, ay para sa sambayanan,” he said.

(We will stop the open-pit mining. All I'm saying is, if we look at the resources that come from nature, we should put that in a sovereign fund so that the income will be for the people.)

“Ilalagay din natin sa isang sovereign fund ang lahat ng ating nanggagaling sa likas na yaman. Ang sovereign fund ay magkakaron ‘yan ng parang mechanism para hindi natin basta basta ginagamit ang ating likas na yaman na para bang uubusin na sa panahon ng isang henerasyon,” he added.

(We will also put all the income from our natural resources in a sovereign fund. This will have a mechanism so that we will not use our natural resources for just one generation.)

In December 2021, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu overturned his late predecessor, former Environment secretary Gina Lopez’ DAO No. 2017-10 which banned the mining method for the extraction of copper, gold, silver, and/or complex ores in the country.

Cimatu then explained that lifting the ban on open-pit mining would “revitalize the mining industry and usher in significant economic benefits to the country by providing raw materials for the construction and development of other industries and by increasing employment opportunities in rural areas where there are mining activities thereby stimulating countryside development.”

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said they have put in place policies that would help protect the environment, such as a progressive rehabilitation of mined out areas.

Should he win the presidential race, Gonzales also noted that he would not only utilize renewable energy but also explore alternative sources of energy.

“Pabilisin natin ang pag-alis ng fossil fuel. Huwag na nating masyadong intindihin ‘yung mga deadline. We will do our best to get out of fossil fuel as much as possible,” he added.

(Let's speed up the elimination of fossil fuels. Let's not take the deadlines too seriously. We will do our best to get out of fossil fuel usage as much as possible.)

Further, in a bid to help protect the country’s aquatic resources, Gonzales also said his government would look at single-use plastic as recommended by experts.

“‘Yung ating sea resources ay napakayaman. Isa ‘yan sa sumisira, ‘yang ating plastic. Kung kinakailangan na bumalik tayo sa dati na bayong ang hawak natin, gagawin natin ‘yan,” he said.

(Our sea resources are so rich, but the plastics are among those destroying them. If we need to go back to our old ways of using bayong, then we will do so.)—AOL, GMA News