PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte vowed on Friday to resolve issues and concerns raised by different stakeholders concerning the mining industry.
He issued the vow as he called on mining companies to come up with a ‘fair’ arrangement on how to deal with the negative effects of their operations to the environment.
In his speech before Davao businessmen, Duterte stressed the need to “rearrange” the issues concerning the industry and address concerns of those who “suffer” from illegal mining operations.
Duterte said: “I will call all the stakeholders in the mining industry. The militants and the communists and all…people who are under the influence of the left, they will be marching tomorrow and mag-Sona. I am inviting the left to do just the talking and I’ll just sit there and hear you out.
“After all, we in government know what’s wrong and what ails the system. We know that.”
Duterte told the mining companies: “Come up with an arrangement where it is fair for everybody. We cannot stop mining because there is a mining law that regulates the industry.”
Duterte said, however, that he was well-aware of the negative effects to the environment and some of the people there because of some mining operations.
“It’s good that we’ll be frank at this. So… I will call you all. I will then say, you see. Look at the slides about good practices of mining,” the President said.
“Then I will ask everybody to focus on that. Then we will look at the slides…we’ll see.”
The President reiterated that the taxes paid by miners would not suffice for the loss of jobs and livelihood of those living in mined areas.
“And so what am I supposed to do? Just leave it that way because the mining industry pays government something like 70 billion [pesos] a year? Five percent lang ang tax,” he said.
“What about the people who are not in the corporate world? Not connected with your business. What will happen to them? Inadequate food. Cannot grow anything anymore as they are suffering.”
But he called on mining companies to come up with a plan how to replace the loss of livelihood and jobs in mining areas.
“Fair is fair, whether I collect taxes, increase the tax so I can think of something to replace what they have lost, the people there or you agree with the people there affected or hard hit by mining,” he said.
“Good mining means no people are really in pain. So that should be the equation. Good mining equals there is no agony on the people. Otherwise, I will have to think about something,” he added.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu earlier said his department expected to release by the end of July the results of the assessment of the appeal made by mining companies which former Environment secretary Regina Lopez shut down.
Lopez earlier ordered a review on the operations of all operating metallic mines in the country.
Following the audit, the former Environment chief announced that 23 mining operations would be up for closure and five more would be suspended. Twelve mining companies passed the audit.
Lopez also announced the government would cancel the mining contracts of 75 mining projects which were found within or near watersheds.
She also ordered a ban on prospective open-pit mines.
Mining companies, however, questioned the decision and filed their appeal with the Environment department.
Some companies also opted to file their appeal with the Office of the President.