President Rodrigo Duterte made another warning to mining stakeholders that his administration was preparing a new legislation on mining.
“Itong sa mining, medyo hindi tayo nagkakaintindihan dito. I’ve always supported Gina (Lopez) because she was — she was really an environmentalist. Medyo sumobra lang. But you know, I’d like to tell you frankly. We would come up with a new legislation, because Bebot Alvarez, the Speaker, hates mining. And he comes from a mining town,” Duterte said during a speech in an investment conference in Davao City.
He said former environment secretary Regina “Gina” Lopez would give inputs in the crafting of the new proposed law on mining.
“We have to go into – not even a compromise – we have to rearrange everything here. I will call all the mining people and Gina Lopez and company, and the militants on the other side, but only those who will behave in Malacañang,” he said.
Lopez drew controversy after she ordered the closure of 23 mining firms and suspended mining contracts.
Duterte had publicly expressed his support for Lopez but the former secretary was rejected by the Commission on Appointments.
The President again reiterated his order to mining companies to compensate those who were affected by their operations.
“Come up with an arrangement which is fair for everybody,” he said.