From MB.com.ph http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/308994/palace-no-ban-mining
Palace: No ban on mining By MADEL R. SABATER March 12, 2011, 6:46pm
SINGAPORE ? Unlike in logging, the Aquino government is not considering any ban on mining in the future.
This was disclosed by President Aquino following his recent three-day state visit to this country last week.
??Di natin pwede i-ban yung mining lalo yung large scale [We cannot ban mining, especially large-scale mining]. The resources are there, and they?re accessible to small scale,? Aquino told reporters.
He said this would ensure protection of local miners, particularly small-scale miners.
?In large-scale mining, you have more or less an idea of its effect on the environment. They have the capacity to pay for the clean-up among other things,? Aquino explained.
?They?ll be mining only with the concurrence of the communities that will be affected and if damage has been done, then we?ll stop it also like what happened in Romblon,? he added.
The Philippines ranks second to Indonesia in terms of mineral resources in the Asia-Pacific region.
The country is rich in copper and the leading minerals in the country are chromite, gold, silver, and nickel. The mining industry is one of the country?s income-generating industries, employing at least 1.5 percent of the total labor force.
Aquino said that as part of the country?s efforts to combat climate change, he has directed agencies such as the Land Transportation Office, Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), to implement the Clean Air Act by actively going after emission centers that are not performing well.
He also said the implementation of the electrical tricycle program is envisioned to help clean the air of pollution.
PEL Price at posting:
9.0¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
