Environment chief Cimatu to ‘inhibit’ from council vote on open-pit mining
ENVIRONMENT and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu yesterday said he will not interfere with the decision that will be reached by the interagency Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) on banning open-pit mines in country.
Mr. Cimatu said he would attend the MICC meeting scheduled on Oct. 24, but will “inhibit” himself during the voting process.
“I will cross the bridge (when I get there) because I don’t know yet what will be the result and I don’t know yet what the conditions and the circumstances of the decision [will be] so I will reserve my [thoughts on the matter],” Mr. Cimatu told reporters on the sidelines of 12th Meeting of Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMSCOP12) in Manila.
Mr. Cimatu is expected to receive the MICC’s recommendations after the Oct. 24 meeting where he will preside as the co-chairman. However, the Environment chief said he will not take part in the voting.
The MICC is composed of members of the Cabinet clusters on Economic Development and on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation plus representatives of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines.
Prior to Mr. Cimatu’s appointment as the environment chief, his predecessor Regina Paz L. Lopez ordered a ban on open-pit mining, which she considered to be detrimental to the environment.
The designation of Ms. Lopez, the first Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary under the Duterte administration, was rejected by the Commission on Appointments (CA).
Mr. Cimatu, shortly after his confirmation by the CA last Oct. 4, said he will push for legislation to regulate open-pit mining, but will heavily rely on MICC’s decisions.
During yesterday’s interview, the DENR chief also reserved his thoughts on the mines suspended or closed under Ms. Lopez, which are due to be discussed as well by the MICC on Oct. 26.
In February this year, the DENR under Ms. Lopez ordered the closure of nearly a hundred mines, prompting an outcry from industry players for a review of the decisions.
The MICC convened a multi-stakeholder technical working group to undertake a review. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato
