Duterte orders mining companies to plant trees or face closure

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City on April 9, 2018, announces that his attendance to the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2018 aims to advance the country’s cooperation with neighboring countries in the areas of economic investments and regional security. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, April 9, gave mining companies six months to reforest their areas of operation or face closure.

“Six months. I do not want to see any bald [mountains]. ‘Yung dinaanan ninyo (In the areas you have passed by), I want trees as tall as me by six months. ‘Pag wala ‘yung kahoy na iniwan ninyo na winasak ninyo ‘yung lupa (If there are no trees in the land you destroyed), then consider your permit revoked,” Duterte said in a speech prior to his departure for China.

According to the President, he issued the warning yesterday so the mining firms would have plenty of time to conduct tree planting projects. Duterte stressed that he is serious in shutting down these companies if they will not comply with his directive.

“Hindi ako nagbibiro (I’m not kidding). Do not wait for the day of your sorrow. Six months. I do not want to see any bald piece of land there.

‘Pag wala akong nakitang kahoy kasing taas ko (If I don’t see trees as tall as I am), better pack up your things. You can go and that would be closed permanently,” he added.

In his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Chief Executive already warned the mining firms that he will tax them “to death” if they do not spend enough to restore the areas affected by their operations.

Duterte, in the same speech, also noted that a ban on open-pit mining could still be in force next year.

“And maybe next year, maybe, I will ban open-pit mining.

Sleep on it,” the President warned.

The ban on open-pit mining was put in place by former environment secretary Regina Lopez in relation to her months-long crackdown on the sector she believes is the root of extensive damage in the environment.

Each open pit, Lopez said, is a “financial liability” for the government for life, and that “it kills the economic potential of the place.”

The open-pit mining ban remains after Duterte turned down the recommendation of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) to lift it in November 2017.

However, the President did not clarify in his statement if he will impose a new ban or just extend the current ban.