TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines — Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez has appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to recall an order lifting the moratorium on new mining agreements.
In a pastoral letter on April 26, Varquez said, “I, your bishop, all the clergy, and our responsible lay leaders oppose this move from our government. We stand strongly against all mining (operations) in the Philippines and particularly in Eastern Samar,” he said.
“Locals may be temporarily employed or [may benefit from mining]. But the long-term consequence of a devastated landscape is also incalculable and irreversible,” Varquez said.
The President, on April 14, issued Executive Order No. 130 to lift the nine-year moratorium on new mining agreements as a way to increase the government’s finances.