Priest lauds gov for signing ban on open-pit mining

A PRIEST and environment groups hailed outgoing Gov. Daisy Fuentes of South Cotabato for signing into law a local environment code that banned open-pit mining in the province.

“Up to the last hour of her stay in office, Gov. Fuentes remained true to her promise to protect the environment and uphold the interest of the greater majority,” Fr. Romeo Catedral, chief of the social action center of the Diocese of Marbel based in Koronadal City.

Both the pro-mining and anti-mining groups staged separate protest actions a few weeks back to push for their positions on the issue.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) or the provincial council members approved on June 9 the province’s environment code, with nine board members voting in favor of the controversial code, one opposing and two abstaining.

The SP passed the code, considered as landmark legislation and the greatest legacy of the Fuentes administration, despite the protest rally staged by the pro-mining groups outside the SP building.

Report from Inquirer.Net