BONTOC, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE– The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP) in their February Diocesan Convention appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to stand firm in his appointment of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez to bring to realization the goals of the good work that the DENR is doing to protect the environment.
As of presstime, Lopez’ fate as DENR chief is hanging in the balance before the Commission on Appointments.
The Diocese also supports the order of Lopez to close 23 mining firms and cancel the Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSA) of 75 mining corporations for destroying watersheds to allow the restoration and rehabilitation of the damaged watersheds.
Diocesan participants while they were in favor of the resolution also called for the necessary measures by government to ensure the livelihood of miners and other employees who shall be laid off from their jobs.
Another resolution was to be formulated following some comments that it’s not only large scale mining operations destroying the environment but also small scale mining and cement factories.
Meantime, the Diocesan Convention participants overwhelmingly opposed the death penalty bill as it is against the right to life and forwarded their full opposition to extrajudicial killings being done in the war against drugs.**By Gina Dizon
