Mining companies to lose license if they don’t plant trees, Duterte warns

President Rodrigo Duterte warned mining companies that if they want to continue doing business in the country, they must conduct reforestation or bid goodbye to their license.

“To mining companies, I’m going to give you six months. I do not want to see bald (areas of land). In areas where you are operating, I want trees as tall as me by six months. If the tree you left is not in the land that you destroyed, then consider your permit revoked,” Duterte said on Monday before he left for China for the Boao Forum.

The president added that he is thinking of implementing a ban on open-pit mining in 2019.

“Maybe next year, maybe, I will ban open-pit mining. Sleep on it,” he said.

(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 04/ 9 /18)