Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu onn Wednesday committed to protecting the environment while promoting the proper utilization of the country’s resources.
‘‘I will try to do my best as President Duterte’s point man in the daunting task of protecting our environment in all forms—from the mines to the lakes and rivers to the forests to the plains to our waters to our sewers, to the very air we breathe, you name it—while promoting the wise and proper use of these God-given resources for the public good. That is what I understand being a steward means,” Cimatu said in his speech during the turnover ceremony.
Cimatu, former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, replaced former Environment secretary Regina Lopez whose appointment was rejected by the Commission on Appointments.
In his speech, the new DENR chief also encouraged all stakeholders to work together in safeguarding the environment.
“I intend to listen to all voices out there and make full use of our powers and resources to ensure that these various concerns, some of which often times clash, will be properly and judiciously addressed,” he said.
Cimatu said that while he is committed to protecting the environment, he will also safeguard the mining laws, noting that “they should be properly implemented.”
Meanwhile, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Luis Jacinto said that he is still waiting for the directives of the new DENR secretary with regards to the mining industry.”
‘‘I’m still waiting and I will follow the policy directions of Secretary Cimatu,” Jacinto told reporters during the sidelines of the turnover ceremony.
Jacinto, however, clarified that the policies issued by Lopez is still in effect, including the moratorium on new mining projects, the ban on open pit mining and the closure and suspension of some mining companies.
“The issuances will stand unless there are new ones. The appeals of the companies, however, will be studied by the legal team that was created to act on it,” he said.
Jacinto added that the Mining Industry Coordinating Council Review will also be pursued.”It will go through the whole process because that is by executive order so once the secretary has sat down and look into the priorities, then the process will continue. That is an institutional response.”