MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte will soon prohibit open-pit mining possibly through the issuance of an executive order, Malacañang said on Thursday.
“He has said it before – he will soon prohibit open-pit mining. I don’t know when but I guess when the Executive Order for this is prepared,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press conference in Ipil, Zambaonga Sibugay.
Although Duterte emphasized the need to impose restrictive policies particularly against open-pit mining, Roque said the President is giving the miners the chance to resort to other forms of mining.
“He has been giving them time to wind down and giving them the opportunity to explore other alternatives but he has repeatedly said that open-pit mining is unacceptable to him, for good reasons,” Roque said.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Duterte warned the mining industry not to destroy the environment, saying environmental protection is one of his government’s priorities.
“To the mining industry, I say this once again and maybe for the last time, do not destroy the environment or compromise our resources; repair what you have mismanaged,” Duterte said.
“Try to change management radically because this time, you will have restrictive policies – a prohibition of open-pit mining is one,” he added.
Duterte exhorted all concerned agencies and local government units to uphold the concept of inter-generational responsibility in the exploration of the country’s mineral resources “anchored on the right to a balanced and healthy ecology”.
“Expect reforms, radical ones. I cannot intend to quarrel with anybody, with the moneyed, but for as long as I am here I said: you will just have to contend with me,” Duterte said.