ATM lauds the recent pronouncement of DENR Sec. Gina Lopez ordering the cancellation of 23 mining projects and suspending the operations of five other mining firms.

Our alliance believes that this is a logical conclusion of the mining audit that was conducted last year, a landmark initiative by Sec. Lopez that initially resulted in the suspension of 10 mining operations and recommending the suspension of 20 other mines. The mining audit itself was a welcome initiative last August 2016, a move that has been mandated by the issuance of Executive Order 79 by the Aquino administration but was sadly, never implemented by past DENR officials.

Sec. Lopez has delivered on her promise to bring social justice.  Her arguments that water, livelihoods and food are primary ingredients for a sustainable life are well-placed.  She has displayed strength of character in this decision and we will continue to engage her administration in the DENR to push for genuine reforms. We particularly welcome the public comment of Pres. Duterte that he supports the move of Sec. Lopez on these mine closures…

But the real victors here are the mining-affected communities.  The closure and suspension of these mines capture the struggles of dozens of communities and indigenous peoples resisting the entry or expansion of destructive mining...