Duterte calls anew to close mining activities

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said that if he would have his way, he would “close all mining” in the country after the landslide in Ucab, Itogon, Benguet, left more than 50 dead in the Cordillera Administration Region.

“If I would try to do my thing I will close all mining in the Philippines, never mind the P70 billion [earning a year],” Duterte said in a situation briefing in La Trinidad, Benguet on Monday evening.

Most of the casualties were buried in a massive landslide that hit Barangay Ucab, at the height of Typhoon Ompong over the weekend. Hundreds of miners and their families were reportedly buried alive.

The President added he will just “confront the Congress where they have to close the mining industry or better yet, plan a period then give a mother earth rest from the continued endless digging.”

“That mining thing has really contributed heartaches to the Filipino people. It is time for us particularly the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) to take second look seriously regarding the dangers of open pit mining,” he added.

“If there is a mining area, we do not allow habitation, DENR can establish a parameter five meters away. Kung mag kutkot lang sila malapit sa bahay nila, patay,” said Duterte.

In lieu of what happen in Itogon, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu reiterated his order to cease and desist all illegal small-scale mining (SSM) operation in the whole Cordillera region.

Even with the existing application for minahang bayan, Cimatu ordered to stop all small-scale mining activities and asked the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to implement the closure.

During the briefing, the Office of the Civil Defense-Cordillera reported 9,198 families affected in the Cordillera region.

Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said they will not stop until all bodies are recovered. He also feared the missing persons in the area are 99 percent already dead.

Fay Apil, regional director of Mines Geosciences Bureau Cordillera said the area where small-scale mining activities are done is considered a land slide prone area.

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