Rodrigo Duterte (born March 28, 1945), is a Filipino lawyer and politician of Visayan descent serving as the 16thPresident of the Philippines since 2016. He is the first Mindanaoan president of the country.
Duterte was among the longest-serving mayors in the Philippines and was Mayor of Davao City, a highly urbanized city on Mindanao island, for seven terms, totalling more than 22 years. He has also served as vice-mayor and as congressman for the city.
I consider the possible closure of Medusa's mine at Co-O that one poster here is suggesting is the result of insufficient understanding of the local Philippines situation.
The new president, Duterte, is from Mindanao island and is the long standing mayor of Davao City, the capital. He has been mayor for 22 years up until the time of becoming President last month. Medusa's operations are also on Mindanao just a few hours drive from Davao City. It is inconceivable that Duterte does not know of the Co-O mine and Medusa and more than likely he would have been there. Medusa's personel and logistical flows go through the airport and port in Davao City. Medusa benefits the local area and people where it's situated, providing employment for 5,000 local people directly and many more indirectly.
As confirmed yesterday, Medusa has ISO14001 certification since last month in compliance with a government directive.
Gina Lopez will not be able to act in an indiscriminate fashion closing all mines who are ISO14001 compliant and all those who aren't. She is part of a government that answers to the President and could well lose her job if she goes too far.
Gina Lopez has been involved in a clean up of a mining polluted river and area in the SE of Luzon, the main island, amongst other campaigns. She has her finger on the pulse of what islands and areas are polluted and what companies that are presently operating there are responsible. In many cases the mining has ceased, the company has moved on, and no one is responsible for cleaning up the mess. As she takes up office she has closed a few operations to send a message that she means business. Those closed may be able to return and all miners need to be careful that their operations don't impair the sustainability of the local area and area down stream that can be affected by streams and river pollution.
Imo Medusa is not on her radar and if it continues as a good neighbour and employer as it has been doing has nothing to fear about its current operations at Co-O.
MML Price at posting:
72.0¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held