House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez yesterday led congressional leaders in assuring Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez of solid backing in her decision to close down 23 mining firms and suspension of five others, some of which are allegedly owned by influential politicians.
Alvarez told a radio interview that Lopez’s decision is justified despite warnings from the affected mining industry that the closure or suspension of firms will trigger massive unemployment and contribute to worsening poverty in the affected localities.
“Totoo ‘yan na may mga maliliit na trabaho na mawawala, kaya lang po ay kung papalitan naman ito ng pagsira ng kalikasan at ang magdudusa rin sa mga panahon ng kalamidad ay iyong mga tao din mismo sa lugar na iyon, mahirap kunin ang argumento na ‘yun,” he said. (Ben R. Rosario)