An open gold-copper mining pit of OceanaGold in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya province. (PHOTO BY RICHARD BALONGLONG / INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON)
Senators are divided over Environment Secretary Gina Lopez鈥檚 crackdown on the mining industry, citing the need for balance to protect the environment and the immediate economic repercussions of mine closures and suspensions.
Sen. Loren Legarda on Wednesday lauded Lopez鈥檚 decision to shut 23 mines, suspend five others and cancel 75 mining contracts, calling the environment chief鈥檚 act 鈥渃ourageous.鈥�
Sen. Bam Aquino said that if the mining companies had violated the law, then they should be penalized, but due process and laws 鈥渘eed to be respected.鈥�
Sen. Joel Villanueva said Lopez鈥檚 move was 鈥済ood for the environment,鈥� but the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should observe proper procedures.
Sen. Francis Escudero said such decisions as Lopez had made should be made by the whole government and not by just one department.
But Malaca帽ang threw its support behind Lopez鈥檚 decision to cancel 75 mining contracts.
Presidential spokesperson, Ernesto Abella, said the cancellation of the mining contracts was 鈥渃onsistent鈥� with Republic Act No. 7942, which prohibits mining in watersheds. 鈥�WITH REPORTS FROM LEILA B. SALAVERRIA AND MARLON RAMOS