Skip to main content

DENR Sec. Gina Lopez Bans Anew All Prospective Open-Pit Mines in the Philippines

Secretary Gina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) fired another shot at the mining industry as she ordered anew to ban all prospective open-pit mines in the Philippines.


During a press briefing DENR Sec. Lopez announced that she is banning the open-pit method of mining for copper, gold, silver and complex ores all over the country.

Sec. Gina Lopez was quoted as saying "As a matter of policy, which is my prerogativve as DENR secretary, we're banning open-pit mining, prospective, for the following reasons: that pit is gonna be there forever and a day, eternally," Lopez said.

Sec. Lopez cited several reasons for the ban including its financial and environmental liability; deprivation of economic use of the area; continuing adverse impact on the environment; and its high risk to host communities.

Under the Philippine Mining Act, an open-pit mining is allowed but Sec. Lope claimed that it was within her prerogative to issue and order to ban the practice.

She noted that open-pit mining is too much of a risk and explained also that she have the mandate to evaluate and have the duty to put a stop to it.

Sec. Lopez was quoted as saying "Each open pit is a financial liability for government for life. It kills the economic potential of the place,” she added.

Lopez emphasized that open pits have ended up as perpetual liabilities, causing adverse impacts to the environment, particularly due to the generation of acidic and heavy metal-laden water, erosion of mine waste dumps and vulnerability of tailings dams to geological hazards.

She added that records show that most of the mining disasters in the country were due to tailings spills associated with open-pit mining.

Source: Philippine Information Agency
 

Popular posts from this blog

Tech 2017: Biggest fails, scandals and embarrassments

© Provided by IBT US This year brought many tech innovations and products, like the iPhone X, virtual reality headsets and augmented reality on apps. However, the tech industry also saw failures this year. Like all businesses, not all products or ideas succeed. The tech industry saw some of its gadgets fail to take off. Besides product failures, the sector was also plagued by scandals and congressional testimonies. Here are the tech industry’s 2017’s top product flops and scandals: Amazon Key In late October, Amazon announced a new delivery method for Prime members which allows drivers to set packages inside customers’ home . The delivery system works with the Amazon Key In-Home Kit that is set up for $249.99. With the kit, users can select the “in home” option on the app and get their items delivered inside their homes. Prime members can receive alerts and can see the delivery happen in real-time through the app. While the service was pitched to people who are too busy to s...

Cimatu warns miners: Don’t befoul watersheds, forests, aquatic resources

© Provided by Mediamerge Corporation Newly-appointed Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu poses for a photo before being sworn into office by President Rodrigo Duterte ahead of the 15th Cabinet meeting in Malacañang on Monday, May 7, 2017. Robinson Niñal/PPD Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on Tuesday warned mining firms to observe responsible mining and avoid destructive practices or face sanctions His pronouncement came in response to President Rodrigo Duterte's second State of the Nation Address, in which the chief executive emphasized mining's impact on the environment. "I know for a fact that in a number of cases, weak and irresponsible mining practices result [in] environmental destruction—contaminating farmlands and poisoning our rivers and seas," Cimatu said in a statement. "Miners better refrain from despoiling our watersheds, forests and aquatic resources," he added. Cimatu said the Department of Environment and Natural Res...

ADB sells green bonds to spur climate change funding

© Provided by Mediamerge Corporation Snowstorm blizzard climate change news-weather news-world international snow winter thumbnail generic The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sold $1.25 billion of green bonds in a dual-tranche issuance to support its low-carbon and climate resilient projects. The Manila-based lender said on Wednesday that more investors saw the value in the use of the proceeds from the bond issuance for climate change mitigation. “ADB is responding to the rapidly growing demand for green bonds with our second dual-tranche outing and our first 5-year green bond offering,” said ADB Treasurer Pierre Van Peteghem. Earlier this year, the bank goaded poor countries to invest in transport, telecommunications, power and water, and sanitation to fight climate change. Venturing into low-carbon investments was also tagged by experts as an opportunity to attract vast capital flows , emphasizing on the potential to create jobs and spur economic growth. With the $1.25 billion ...