(Eagle News)—-Plant trees within six months or have your mining permits revoked.
President Rodrigo Duterte issued this stern warning to mining companies before he departed for China on Monday, April 9.
“I do not want to see any bald (patch). ‘Yung dinaanan niyo, I want trees as tall as me by six months. Kapag wala ‘yung kahoy na iniwan ninyo sa winasak niyong lupa, then consider your permit revoked,” he said.
He said he was bent on closing down mining companies that did not comply with his order.
According to Duterte, he was also considering a ban on open-pit mining.
Then-Environment Secretary Gina Lopez took a hard stance against mining companies she considered irresponsible and immediately shut them down.
Her successor, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu implemented a softer approach, opting to give the companies time to comply with environmental laws.
