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DENR's Lopez: Gov't stand on mining is non-negotiable

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/06/20/20151211-lopez-gina-fsj.jpg"/></figure></div>MANILA (2nd UPDATE) - Government&#x27;s crackdown on the mining industry will continue and its tough stand on unsafe practices is &quot;non-negotiable,&quot; Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said Friday.“The stand on the environment is non-negotiable because that’s in the law, and you have to follow the rule of law, which means the silting of rivers, the adverse effect on farmlands, that clearly has to be fixed,&quot; Lopez told ANC&#x27;s &quot;Market Edge.&quot;The environment department has suspended at least 10 mining operations. Twenty more mines are facing suspension after failing the industry-wide audit of compliance with safety standards.<ul class="op-related-articles" title="Read">	<li>READ: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/27/16/20-mines-fail-denr-audit-face-suspension-lopez">20 mines fail DENR audit, face suspension: Lopez</a></li></ul>The companies are expected to respond to the findings of the nearly two-month long inspections next week, Lopez said.“My stand is we should not allow any kind of operation where the impact is negative,” she said.Lopez said mining firms should increase their social and economic impact.The agency is also working on a monetary valuation scheme for the mining industry wherein a cost-benefit analysis would be conducted to assess the impact to the community, she added.Lopez is set to personally inspect operations in several mining sites.&quot;I&#x27;m not giving in to any business or political interests. I&#x27;m going to do what&#x27;s best for the common good,&quot; she said.<div>NOT ALL 20 MINES MAY BE HALTED</div>Asked if it was possible that not all 20 mines would be suspended, Lopez told Reuters: &quot;Yes, if they are able to fix whatever&quot; needs to be fixed.&quot;Some of the violations though will take time to fix. So they need to use their employees to fix it. They should put measures to make sure it doesn&#x27;t happen again. The welfare of the people is paramount,&quot; said Lopez, a staunch environmentalist.Only 11 out of the Philippines&#x27; 41 mines passed a two-month audit aimed at punishing those causing environmental harm.The 10 suspended nickel mines and those at risk of being halted account for nearly 60 percent of the Philippines&#x27; nickel ore output.Lopez said some of the violations uncovered in the audit were minimal, while some involve the destruction of the environment and would take time to be addressed. Those with serious environmental lapses will still be suspended, she said.The Philippines accounts for nearly a quarter of the world&#x27;s mined nickel supply, most of which is shipped to China.Marcventures Mining and Development Corp., whose nickel mine was among the 20 facing suspension, said its audit findings &quot;are defensible and can be reversed.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles" title="Read">	<li>READ: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/30/16/marcventures-claims-unintended-oversight-in-denr-audit">Marcventures claims &#x27;unintended oversight&#x27; in DENR audit</a></li></ul>Lopez&#x27;s stance on mining is backed by President Rodrigo Duterte who had warned miners to strictly follow tighter environmental rules or be shut down, saying the nation could survive without a mining industry.Past environmental disasters, including a 1996 tailings leak at a copper mine in central Marinduque province that contaminated rivers, have spurred mining opponents in the Philippines led by the influential Catholic Church.Miners, however, have questioned the latest review, particularly the inclusion of anti-mining activists in the audit teams. -- With Reuters

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) - Government's crackdown on the mining industry will continue and its tough stand on unsafe practices is "non-negotiable," Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said Friday.

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) - Government's crackdown on the mining industry will continue and its tough stand on unsafe practices is "non-negotiable," Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said Friday.