Decision time looms for the mining industry

IN spite of our misgivings, and obviously, the fears of nearly every stakeholder in the Philippines’ mining sector, the method to the apparent madness of the aggressive campaign to ‘clean up’ the nation’s mining industry by Environment Secretary Regina Paz Lopez is becoming clear, and may just lead to a more sustainable and productive future.

There have been three significant developments since Lopez, who as an environmental activist has been publicly very vocal about her distaste for mining in general, took over as head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.