The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) has appealed to President Duterte to reconsider his position on open-pit mining operations in the country.
This came after the President, in an earlier press conference, announced he wanted to eventually close all open-pit mining operations in the country.
The President said he had discussed the possible closure of open-pit mining operations in the country with Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu.
COMP executive director Ronald Recidoro said open-pit mining, if done responsibly and rehabilitated properly, could and should still be allowed.
“We will work closely with the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau) to implement mining regulations strictly in all areas of the country, and show that open-pit mines can be operated safely and efficiently,” he said.
He said that at the end of the mine’s life, open-pit mines could be rehabilitated and transformed for other purposes such as agriculture, forestry and eco-tourism.
“Let us just make sure it is done to the best and highest standards,” he said.
Recidoro said ore deposits for copper and nickel near the surface of the earth could be extracted only through open-pit mining.
The President’s statement on open-pit operations came after MGB had proposed to lift the ban on open-pit mining that was imposed by former Environment Secretary Regina Lopez.
Lopez had held a press conference appealing to the President to keep the ban.