(November
14, 2003) - Aware of the big demand for copper, gold and
nickel and their potential for creating jobs, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
confirmed Thursday night that her government is implementing a new
policy of actively promoting, rather than just tolerating, sustainable
mining.
In
a speech at the golden anniversary
of the Philippine Mines Safety and Environment Association and the
Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference at the Manila
Hotel, the President assured mining leaders that with a Socio- Economic
Planning Secretary like Romulo Neri and Environment and Natural
Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun at the helm, she feels the industry
is in good hands.
"Our
awardees tonight are concrete proof that you can have mining, you
can have jobs and you can have concern for the environment at the
same time," she told the packed gallery at the Centennial Hall
of the Manila Hotel.
The
policy shift, according to her, occurred shortly after she appointed
Neri and Gozun whom she described as open-minded and modern in her
approach to mining policy.
She
said that to really develop the economy and create a stronger Republic,
"we need to change our system, to institute true reforms in
our way of politics and our economy. And among the reforms I recognized
we need to do is the reform of our mining policy."
She
emphasized that it has been her administration's policy to promote
responsible mineral resources exploration, development and utilization
to enhance economic growth in a manner that adheres to the principles
of sustainable development.
"I'm
aware of the big demand for copper, gold and nickel and their great
potential for creating jobs. And after all, creating jobs is the
most important means of fighting poverty," she said.
Neri,
she said, has a good micro-economic program that could supplement
the macro-economic gains she had made in the first half of her administration.
The
President said that although historically, the country's economic
development has been slow compared to its neighbors, "it should
be a source of pride to us that in the last two and a half years,
we did better than our neighbors,"
"The
first six months of this year, we achieved a 4.8 percent GNP growth
rate, the sixth highest among the 21 economies of the Asia- Pacific
region and the highest in our country since the Asian financial
crisis," she explained.
In
closing, she asked the mining sector to help her not only in creating
jobs, not only in safety and in protection of the environment, but
also in starting the healing process that will give the whole business
community and the Filipino a better environment in which to work,
do business and live in.
During
the rites, the President handed the 2003 Presidential Mineral Industry
Environmental Awards to the Silangan Mindanao Exploration Co., Inc.
(mineral exploration category), Union Cement Corp.-Bulacan Plant
(Quarry operation category), Union Cement Corp-La Union Plant (Quarry
operation category) and Taganito Mining Corp. (Surface Mining Operation
category).
PMSEA
director read a message from the industry while PMSEA president
Jose Ernesto C. Rodriguez gave the welcome remarks. (www.gov.ph.
Also appeared in the Manila Bulletin, November 17, 2003,
and the Philippine Star, November 17, 2003.)
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