Open-pit mining ban to stay

TAGUM CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his opposition to open-pit mining.

In a speech at the 60th birthday bash of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez here, Mr. Duterte said he had ordered Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to stop open-pit mining operations.

“It has to stop,” the President said.

He said he had “no other order” to Cimatu “except to kindly take care of the environment for the next generation.” —Frinston Lim