© 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 Resources (DENR) will strictly enforce mining and environmental regulations.
"Mining operations found violating laws, rules and regulations will have to pay the price for damages caused, through payment of fines, suspensions or closure, and subject the President and each of the Directors thereof responsible for the acts committed by association, corporation or partnership to suffer the penalty of imprisonment at the discretion of the court," he said.
He added that the DENR welcomes and fully supports Duterte's resolve to prioritize environmental protection and his non-negotiable policy against irresponsible mining.
"The protection of the environment must be made a priority ahead of mining and all other activities that adversely affect [the environment] in one way or another, and this policy is non-negotiable," the President said during his SONA on Monday.
"The DENR is one with the President in his firm desire to rid the country of abusive and irresponsible miners that are concerned only with profits and care nothing for the environment and our countrymen," Cimatu said.
He said that the the development of the country's mineral resources should be on the basis of technical feasibility, environmental sustainability, cultural and social acceptability, and financial viability.
"The absence of one will not render a mining project as responsible," Cimatu said. — BM, GMA News