De Lima seeks Senate probe into lifting of ban on open-pit mining. READ:
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima has called on the Senate to conduct an inquiry into the recent decision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to lift the ban on open-pit mining in the country.
“It beehoves the government to exert all efforts to explore other avenues before resorting to possibly catastrophic means of generating wealth for our country at the cost of sustainability and the welfare of present and future Filipinos,” added the senator, who is seeking re-election in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
The government defended the move as against environmental groups who criticized the decision as “shortsighted and misplaced development priority” saying it is part of attempts to revitalize the economy that is reeling from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is evident from the numerous mining disasters that have occurred in the country that we have still yet to figure out how to consistently extract our mineral resources in a safe and efficient manner and reduce or altogether prevent such accidents from occurring,” she said.