MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo said she would scrap the Duterte administration's order allowing new mining agreements if she wins in the May polls.
In April last year, Duterte lifted a nine-year-old ban on new mining agreements in a bid to revitalize the mining industry and bring more money into the country after the economic slowdown brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"Ipapawalang-bisa ko. Para sa’kin, napakahalaga pagdating sa usapin ng environment na binibigyan at ini-empower ‘yung mga maapektuhan,” Robredo said in an interview with television host Boy Abunda on Wednesday.
(I will revoke it. For me, it is important that when it comes to the environment, we should empower those who will be affected.)
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources also issued an order lifting a four-year-old ban on open-pit mining in December.
The presidential candidate said she is for "sustainable" mining.
"Pero para sa’kin kasi ‘yung sustainability ma-attain lang natin ‘yung pag meron tayong maayos na mekanismo para ‘yung mga nakatira doon, ‘yung mga taong mangangalaga ay binibigyan natin ng boses," Robredo said.
(But for me, we can only attain sustainability if we have a proper mechanism, if we give voice to people who live in areas where there are mining activities.)
She added that communities residing in these areas, especially indigenous peoples, should receive the most benefits from mineral extraction.
No-mining zones
Robredo also said the passage of the National Land Use Act is needed to identify no-mining zones in the country.
"Kailangan mapasa na ‘yun (land use bill) bilang batas dahil ‘yun ‘yung magsasabi, ‘yun yung magpapanukala alin bang mga lugar dito sa bansa natin ang kailangan ideklara na mga no-mining zones," she said.
(The land use bill needs to be passed into law because it will declare which areas in the country should be declared as no-mining zones).
President Rodrigo Duterte, whom Robredo hopes to succeed, had repeatedly called on Congress to pass a national land use law. According to a Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism report, the land use bill got stuck at Senate’s committee on environment, natural resources, and climate change chaired by Sen. Cynthia Villar.
Passage of a national land use bill also faltered in the Aquino administration despite President Benigno Aquino III certifying it as urgent.
In a separate interview with Abunda, presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said "sustainable" mining could be done in the Philippines. He also said he is wary of the open-pit mining method, citing its environmental impacts.
Another presidential bet, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, said the mining industry cannot be killed because of its contributions to the economy, but stressed that the extraction of minerals can be kept "responsible."