THE government is preparing a measure that will address the problems in mining, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday.
At the Davao Investment Conference, Duterte said House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was set to pass a bill that contains the inputs of all stakeholders, including former Environment Secretary Regina Paz "Gina" Lopez.
Duterte maintained that the mining rules and regulations need to be overhauled, in order to end the woes of the mining industry.
"Here in mining, there are misunderstandings. I'd like to tell you frankly, we would come up a new legislation because of Bebot (Pantaleon) Alvarez, the Speaker, hates mining and he comes from a mining town," the President said in a speech delivered in Lanang, Davao City.
"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 behave in MalacaƱang," he added.
The Chief Executive earlier said that he would solve the mining impasse, once the government is finished addressing terrorism in Mindanao.
Duterte expressed concerns over the mining operations, especially now that Lopez failed to secure the approval of Commission on Appointment.
Duterte said the mining firms should come up with a "fair" arrangement that would benefit everyone, especially the marginalized sector.
"Why don't you compensate the people who are deprived now of the things that they need and not there because of mining... Now, this is my request to you: Come up with an arrangement that is fair for everybody," the President said.
"Good mining means no people are really in pain. So that should be the equation. Good mining equals there is no agony on the people. Otherwise, I will have to think about something," he added. (SunStar Philippines)
