PH Govt Should Re-Evaluate Opening of Mines

This week’s news included several government agencies of the current administration, pushing for a revival in the Philippines’ mining industry. 

It was the late former DENR Secretary Gina Lopez who ordered the closure of mining companies and banned open-pit mining during her term. This move was highly controversial and immediately rejected by others due to the loss of jobs and the economic blows that come with it. 

With this move, Lopez was forced to step down after serving only ten months as the Secretary of the DENR due to a congressional committee rejecting her appointment. 

According to the report released by the economic team of the government, which includes NEDA, DOF, the Development Academy of the Philippines, and even DENR, mining has been shown to significantly contribute to the country’s GDP. 

Although this same economic group has noted that environmental sustainability should still be a top factor and reforms would be needed for the companies to meet the standards, environmental groups and advocates still rally against this. 

In South Cotabato, the lifting of the open-pit mining by the local government has triggered religious and environmental groups to conduct a protest march against the decision. 

This is a highly controversial and widely debated topic in the country. You have environmental issues on one hand, and economic development on the other. In times like this, with several still recovering from the pandemic’s effects and the ballooning of goods due to the Russia-Ukraine war, it’s evident which hand the government picks. 

To improve the economic situation of the country, the government is prioritizing the lifting of bans and restrictions on mining. As for the long-term effects of this decision on our country’s natural resources, it will not look good. 

With the incoming administration coming in a couple of weeks, there is still a chance that the next DENR secretary might reconsider. In the chances that this will still push through, the government should put proper measures in place. Standards that will truly protect the environment. Laws with substance and depth are intended for conservation instead of empty words to appease the public. 

After all, the Philippines has an abundant ecosystem that is the envy of other countries, and protection of this resource would benefit the Filipinos in the long run.

Sources: Inquirer, BBC, Inquirer