Manila - A group of miners on Monday
opposed the appointment of the Philippine environment minister
saying her ordered closure of more than half of the country's
mines showed an "undeniable bias" against the sector.
Regina Lopez, a former environmental activist appointed by
President Rodrigo Duterte last June, is among a few cabinet
members who have yet to be confirmed by Congress.
Duterte re-appointed her in November after the commission on
appointments - made up of lawmakers - bypassed her confirmation.
Lopez's recent moves show "antagonism towards large-scale
mining, rendering her unfit and incapable of a responsible,
fair, just and balanced implementation of the Constitution, the
Philippine Mining Act and related laws," the Chamber of Mines of
the Philippines said in a letter to lawmakers.
She "does not have the administrative experience and
competence to lead the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources" and has a "poor track record in leading and managing
environmental and eco-tourism projects," the letter said.
Lopez angered the mining sector after ordering the closure
of 23 of the Philippines' 41 mines for causing damage to
watersheds and siltation of coastal waters and farmlands. She
also ordered the suspension of another five mines.
In response, Lopez told Reuters that she does have "a bias
against the operations of companies which cause suffering to our
people."
"I do have a bias in favor of social justice and the
environment. I will not cow to big business. My allegiance is to
the common good and the Filipino people," she said.
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The February 2 decision on the closures followed a months-long
audit of the mines last year. A government team that reviewed
the audit recommended only suspensions and fines.
The Southeast Asian nation is the world's top nickel ore
supplier. Lopez has said the mine closures account for about
half of the domestic nickel ore output.
Duterte said on Sunday he would not stand in the way of
Lopez's decision to close several mines in the southern
Philippines after he saw the damage they had done to the
environment.
The mining chamber has said that Lopez "violated due
process" by not giving proper notice to miners affected by the
closures and refusing to release the results of the audit.
Lopez, whose agency oversees mining, later said the audit
results can be released, but stood by her decision to close or
suspend 28 mines.