Gina Lopez: There Is No Such Thing As Responsible Mining

Gina Lopez says there is no responsible mining.

Department of Enviroment and Natural Resoures (DENR) incoming secretary Regina “Gina” Lopez said that there is no such thing as responsible mining.

See Also: Mining Companies Allegedly Threatened By Gina Lopez’s DENR Appointment

In a text message sent to Inquirer, the chairman of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya said that mining has caused suffering to poor areas.

According to Lopez, there is poverty in mining sites, noting that the poorest cities in the country are mining sites.

“If there is responsible mining why is it that wherever there is mining, there is poverty? The poorest sites in the country are mining areas,” she said.

Gina Lopez  issued the statement, following reactions on her appointment as the next DENR chief. On Tuesday, Lopez officially accepted the offer of President-elect Duterte as the environment secretary.

Aside from DENR, Gina Lopez will also lead the  Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) which is responsible for regulating the mining industry in the Philippines.

“How can it be responsible to do open pit mining in a country that is most vulnerable to climate change?” she said.

Chairman of Philex Mining Manny Pangilinan recently reacted at the appointment of Gina Lopez. He said that he respect the decision of the incoming president.

Gina Lopez is an anti-mining advocate. She is known for her work in rehabilitating the Pasig River through the “Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig” program of her foundation.

It can be remembered that she had a heated exchange with Pangilinan in 2012 during a conference on the effects of mining in the economy and environment.