combative philippines environment chief ousted by lawmakers
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Combative Philippines environment chief ousted by lawmakers

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice Combative Philippines environment chief ousted by lawmakers

Philippine Environment Secretary Regina Lopez sings "I believe I can fly" during a news conference
Manila - Emirates Voice

Philippine lawmakers forced Environment Secretary Regina Lopez out of office on Wednesday, ending a 10-month tenure during which she ordered the closure of more than half the country's mines and banned open-pit mining.

Lopez's rejection by the Commission on Appointments is final and a mining group said it would seek to reverse her controversial measures which were largely supported by President Rodrigo Duterte. His spokesman said Duterte would respect the panel's decision.

"It is the constitutional right of every Filipino to a clean and healthy environment," an emotional, at times angry, Lopez told reporters.

"It was a dream and promise we had for the country, it is unfortunate that business interests have in fact run the day."

A committed environmentalist, Lopez was selected by Duterte because of her record as an activist dedicated to the poor, which included cleaning up the Pasig river that flows through the heart of Manila, reforestation work and safeguarding areas of biodiversity.

The Philippines is the world's top supplier of nickel ore, used by China for steel production, and metals traders said suspended nickel mines could reopen. Nickel futures on the London Metal Exchange slumped more than 2 per cent as news of Lopez's ouster spread.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said it would seek the reversal of Lopez's moves to close mines and ban open-pit mining as soon as a new minister was appointed.

"We feel that those have no legal foundation," said Chamber spokesman Ronald Recidoro. "There were no proper consultations held. And more importantly it's really out to kill the mining industry."

Lopez, 63, is the daughter of a media mogul. At 18, she left a life of privilege behind in the Philippines, took a vow of celibacy and became a yoga teacher and missionary in Africa, living in slums among the poor.

In February, Lopez ordered the closure of 22 of the country's 41 operating mines and the cancellation of dozens of contracts for undeveloped mines to protect water resources. Last week, she banned open-pit mining.

Lopez said any replacement would "get clobbered" if they ran afoul of business interests.

Lawmakers on the appointments committee voted 16-8 in favour of removing Lopez.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, head of the environment committee that held the hearings to determine Lopez's qualifications, announced the outcome "with sadness in my heart."

"I believe in my heart no matter how several big people may be against Gina, she will always stand on what is morally and environmentally right and righteous," said Pacquiao, referring to Lopez by her nickname.

Pacquiao said the deliberation was "perhaps the longest, dramatic and most watched by all Filipinos from all walks of life."

Source: Timesofoman

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

combative philippines environment chief ousted by lawmakers combative philippines environment chief ousted by lawmakers

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

combative philippines environment chief ousted by lawmakers combative philippines environment chief ousted by lawmakers

 



GMT 05:06 2024 Tuesday ,06 February

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 06:15 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Volkswagen clinches record sales

GMT 20:35 2014 Monday ,08 December

CFP crucial for refining industry in Kuwait

GMT 13:25 2011 Tuesday ,13 December

Latest Call Of Duty Breaks $1bn Sales Record

GMT 06:47 2017 Sunday ,12 February

Fresh whale stranding on notorious New Zealand beach

GMT 10:48 2017 Sunday ,19 November

Industry minister receives Turkish ambassador

GMT 12:35 2015 Saturday ,06 June

Bindi Irwin is all grown up in new Instagram photo

GMT 14:08 2012 Tuesday ,28 August

600 Afghan soldiers killed over last 2 months

GMT 05:27 2011 Wednesday ,21 September

Facebook revenue estimated at $4.27 billion

GMT 20:06 2017 Wednesday ,22 February

Senior Yemeni general killed in Houthi missile attack

GMT 23:18 2016 Sunday ,12 June

Daesh kills 18 civilians trying

GMT 00:47 2017 Tuesday ,10 January

6 policemen killed, 9 injured in Arish attack

GMT 21:54 2017 Thursday ,15 June

Pleasant weather forecast

GMT 16:39 2017 Thursday ,17 August

Maria Sharapova granted wild-card entry

GMT 12:33 2012 Friday ,24 February

10 signs your spouse may be planning to divorce you

GMT 17:32 2017 Tuesday ,25 July

King leading diplomacy to safeguard Jerusalem

GMT 06:58 2012 Sunday ,12 February

Malaysia deports Saudi journalist
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice