AN AUSTRALIAN envoy has offered to share their country's best practices to the Philippine government and industry players in Davao City to achieve sustainable and environment-friendly mining amid the massive closure of mining operations nationwide.
Australian senior trade commissioner to the Philippines Elodie Journet said in her speech Monday, February 27, at the Marco Polo Hotel that Australia's mining practice is a proof that agriculture, mining, and environment can co-exist.
"We are open to collaborate with government and industry to share the mining practices in Australia, practices that aside from protecting the communities and environment it can also you can create jobs for the people," she said.
Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly recommended the Australian standard of mining, a practice that upholds the most stringent of environmental standards and requirements.
“We, as a country, believe that it is very much important for anyone that’s undertaking mining do some responsibility. It’s very important to protect the environment," Journet said.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez has ordered the closure of 23 mining companies across the country and canceled 75 existing mineral production sharing agreements that are located within watersheds due to its alleged violation of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
This move has raised eyebrows from mining companies, saying it did not observe due process. However, Lopez refuted such claim.
She stressed that developing the ecotourism and green economy instead of mining will generate more jobs and income to the country.