The auditing of all mining companies in Mindanao being conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is expected to be completed by next week.
This was the announcement of DENR Secretary Gina Lopez during the environmental summit held at the Ateneo de Davao University.
President Rodrigo Duterte once again warned mining firms in the country to follow the standards.
“We will go after mining [companies] that don’t follow the standard. The strickest and telling them that the best practices in the mining industry can be found in Canada and Australia. If you cannot follow that standard, I am sorry,” said President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Sec. Lopez, their auditing is based not only on the technical but also on its effects to the community, agriculture, and nature.
In case the companies violate, they will be shut down.
“All those that don’t pass the audit, I won’t even wait for an hour. Finish. It’s finish. It’s over, once I follow the due process. But for me, justice delayed is justice denied. What happened in the past happened in the past,” Sec. Lopez warned.
According to DENR, they are set to sign an agreement with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to enforce environmental laws.
The two-day Mindanao Environmental Summit’s target is to formulate concrete solutions in resolving numerous environmental problems in Mindanao.
Four thousand participants from various organizations and sectors in 6 regions are expected to join the summit.
(JANICE INGENTE/UNTV NEWS & RESCUE)
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