Big miners claim innocence over Duterte’s mining remarks

Spresident Ronald Recidoro said. Then he said that COMP members have always cooperated with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in strictly enforcing all environmental regulations, especially when it concerns the safety and welfare of all our stakeholders.

“Strict regulation and monitoring by the Mines and GeoSciences Bureau (MGB) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), especially of the small-scale mining sector, will be key to ensuring that the environment is adequately protected, and that more trees are planted in mining areas,” Recidoro further said.

Meanwhile, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), a coalition of mining-affected communities ome of the country's biggest miners refused to believe that they are the ones that are being attacked in President Rodrigo Duterte's latest pronouncements about the mining sector, saying that they share "deep concern for the environment" with the latter.

During the anniversary of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Duterte was quoted using colorful language that he will cut off the heads of rich miners if they don’t repair farms ravaged by mining.

In a statement, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) said that like Duterte, they have "deep concern for the environment and the communities affected by mining operations."

“The Chamber of Mines does not condone wrongdoing within the industry. Erring mines must be prosecuted and made accountable to the fullest extent of the law," COMP vice and their support groups, reminded Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to “listen closely and heed" Duterte’s position on irresponsible mining.

ATM national coordinator Jaybee Garganera said that Cimatu should pay attention to the recent remarks of Duterte, expressing his frustration against mining companies who wreaked havoc on the environment.

To recall, Cimatu recently suspended the implementation of former Environment Secretary Regina Paz Lopez’s order restricting the issuance of environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

He is also currently reviewing the appeals of mining companies that were ordered closed or suspended as a result of the mining audit during Lopez’s term.